Guidelines for cancer prevention reduces risk of death from cancer, cardiovascular diseases, all causes

A study of more than 100,000 men and women will find more than 14 years smokers who recommendations for cancer prevention followed had a lower risk of dying from cancer, heart disease, and all-causes. The study appears early online in Cancer Biomarkers, epidemiology and prevention, and was led by the American Cancer Society epidemiologists.

Few studies have assessed the combined effect of following recommended lifestyle behavior on cancer, heart disease, and all-cause mortality, and most of this tobacco avoidance as one of the recommendations. Because eight in ten Americans have never been or former smokers, researchers wanted to more clearly understand the impact of other recommended behavior.

Researchers led by Marji McCullough on the American Cancer Society study, used for their diet and lifestyle questionnaires completed in 1992 and 1993 by 111,966-smoking men and women in the cancer prevention study (CPS)-II nutrition Cohort. The participants were scored on a range from 0 to 8 points to compliance with the American Cancer Society (ACS) cancer prevention guidelines with respect to the body mass index, physical activity, nutrition and consumption of alcohol, with 8 points simultaneously comply with all recommendations represent.

After 14 years, men and women with high compliance scores (7, 8) had a 42% lower risk of death compared to those with low scores (0-2). Risk of cardiovascular disease death were 48% lower in men and 58% lower among women, while the risk of cancer death was 30% lower in men and 24% lower in women. Similar associations, although not all statistically significant, were observed for never and former smokers.

The researchers conclude that adhering to cancer prevention guidelines for obesity, nutrition, physical activity and alcohol use is associated with lower risk of death from cancer, heart disease, and all-causes in non-smokers. They say than tobacco, after other prevention guidelines may significantly lower cancer risk of premature death in older adults.

Article: "guidelines for cancer prevention reduces risk of cancer, heart disease and all-cause mortality." Marjorie L McCullough, Alpa V Patel, Lawrence H Kushi, Roshni Patel, Walter C Willett, Colleen Doyle, Michael J Susan Gapstur and Thun. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 5 April 2011; OnlineFirst, published April 5, 2011; DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965. epi-10-1173

Source:
David Sampson
American Cancer Society