Colon cancer survivors often have complaints years after treatment due to the cancer or the treatment, such as fatigue and tingling in the fingers and toes. This has a strong impact on perceived quality of life. While current lifestyle counseling is primarily aimed at (colon) cancer prevention, Marlou-Floor Kenkhuis investigated the relationship between lifestyle, quality of life, and fatigue in colon cancer survivors in her doctoral research. . The aim was to provide targeted lifestyle advice to enable patients to experience a better quality of life. This was reported by the University of Maastricht.
One of the first things patients ask when colon cancer is diagnosed is, “Is there anything I can do about it?” This question can be interpreted in different ways. The attending physician will mainly look at the treatment of physical health. However, the fact that someone is “clean” and healthy again after treatment does not mean that the person is freed from all problems. In fact, most patients complain of long-term complaints such as fatigue and tingling in the fingers and toes. This worsens the quality of life of this group of people. Targeted lifestyle advice can improve quality of life and reduce symptoms. Until now, however, research had only been conducted on lifestyle advice for cancer prevention. Marlou-Floor investigated in an ongoing study, the EnCoRe study, which examines lifestyle and quality of life in colorectal cancer survivors, what lifestyle advice may be important.
Lifestyle is a package
There are various facets to lifestyle including exercise, sitting behavior and nutrition. While previous research has looked at these individual recommendations, they were all included in this study in the form of a lifestyle score. Lifestyle is a package where all facets are important and can influence each other. One can strengthen the other. The study concluded that interventions aimed at increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior are particularly relevant, as are improving eating habits such as increasing fruit and vegetable consumption and reducing the consumption of sugary drinks and processed foods. . The findings also suggest that a recovery phase should be considered in the immediate aftermath of cancer treatment. For example, it may be important to realize that regaining your old weight after treatment may not be harmful, but may actually be helpful in improving your quality of life.
By: National Care Guide
