In-Person Workshop: Lifestyle Medicine in Cancer Care: Ready for Prime Time?

Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide, and the second leading cause of death in the United States. Lifestyle factors are known to account for at least 42% of incident cancers in the United States, and 45.1% of cancer deaths. Cigarette smoking accounts for the highest proportion of cancer cases (19%) and deaths (28.8%), followed by excess body weight (7.8% and 6.5%, respectively) and alcohol intake (5.6% and 4%, respectively). In the past year, studies have also demonstrated a marked increase in the incidence of cancers diagnosed in individuals under age 50. Understanding the reasons for this dramatic rise in early-onset cancers is an area of ongoing research, but this increase is likely due to lifestyle factors, including obesity, tobacco and alcohol use, sedentary behavior, sleep disturbance, changes in the microbiota, and environmental exposures. It is imperative that healthcare providers learn how evidence-based tools from lifestyle medicine can not only reduce cancer risk, but also improve quality of life and outcome for individuals with a cancer diagnosis. While epidemiologic studies have reported associations between various lifestyle factors and cancer risk, mechanistic data remain sparse. However, exciting advances in methods to study metabolism, the microbiome, and the immune system have led to further mechanistic insights into the role of dietary factors and physical activity. The emerging field of “exercise oncology” has also led to advances in the understanding of the role of physical activity in cancer risk reduction and survivorship. In this interactive workshop, we will provide a comprehensive overview of lifestyle medicine in oncology care, explore mechanistic insights underlying the role of dietary factors and physical activity, and highlight practical strategies to implement lifestyle medicine programs and incorporate research in the care of cancer patients.