Cancer survivors are at increased risk for cancer recurrence, new cancers, and long-term complications of treatment. A new study by the National Cancer Institute suggests that many patients who have recovered from cancer still smoke and drink alcohol and don’t get enough physical exercise, thus increasing their risk of new health problems.

To determine the levels of risk, Dr. Keith M. Bellizzi and his associates examined data from the National Health Interview Survey, conducted between 1998 and 2001. There were approximately 7,400 subjects who reported a history of cancer and 121,000 who had no history of cancer (controls). They report their findings in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Their analysis of the data showed that, overall, the two groups did not differ much in the percentage who were smokers (20 percent of survivors and 24 percent of controls). However, the authors were alarmed to find that among subjects aged 40 or younger, those with a history of cancer were more likely to be smoking (43 percent versus 26 percent).

The use of alcohol was similar in the two groups, with 16 percent of survivors and 19 percent of controls reporting moderate to heavy drinking.

Survivors were less likely to meet recommendations for physical activity level (30 percent versus 37 percent).

Perhaps the best news concerned use of cancer screening tests by 75 percent to 88 percent of survivors.

Among women ages 40 to 64, cancer survivors were 34 percent more likely than controls to meet recommendations for mammogram screening and 36 percent more likely to undergo regular Pap smear testing. Men with a history of cancer were 32 percent more likely to undergo screening with the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.

“Cancer survivors are now living longer and represent a rapidly growing population, especially in coming years as the baby boom generation ages,” Bellizzi and his colleagues note.

They maintain that “we need to recognize the health behavior practices of survivors and use this information to increase the knowledge of survivors and practitioners and to develop targeted behavioral interventions that can help survivors manage the adverse consequences of cancer and its treatment.”

SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Oncology, December 2005.