Introduction. African American breast cancer survivors engage in less physical activity compared with their Caucasian counterparts. There is a need for exercise intervention research that focuses on improving the overall health and longterm survivorship of African American breast cancer survivors, especially because they often have worse outcomes than Caucasian survivors. Study objectives were to determine whether African American participants increase physical activity and explore whether exercise had a positive impact on fitness and health. Methods. African American breast cancer survivors, stage 0 to IIIA, within 2 years of completing primary cancer treatments were recruited for a 16-week home-based aerobic and resistance training exercise pilot study. Outcome measures assessed at baseline and postintervention included physical activity questionnaires and accelerometry, cardiopulmonary function (VO 2peak ) with gas exchange, muscle strength, Selective Functional Movement Assessment, and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scans for body composition analysis. Assessments for fatigue and quality of life (QOL) were also completed at baseline and postintervention. Motivational interviewing was utilized to determine goals and explore exercise facilitators/barriers. Participants completed weekly exercise logs and received weekly phone calls. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to detect significant changes in physical activity and also changes in fitness/health parameters, fatigue, and QOL. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to examine relationships between physical activity and health measures. Results. A total of 17 women enrolled; 13 completed the intervention (76%). Mean age of the participants was 51 years. There was a significant increase in total minutes of weekly physical activity postintervention (M = 271 minutes, SD = 151; P = .001). Significant improvements were found in cardiopulmonary fitness as measured by VO 2peak with a mean increase of 2.03 mL/kg/min (P = .01). Several strength measures significantly increased and also functional movement (P = .005). Positive correlations existed between physical activity and several physical measures, with significant relationships between functional movement and some strength measures (eg, left arm extension: r s = 0.61, P = .002). Total QOL and fatigue scores improved, but neither was significant. Conclusions. The intervention led to increased physical activity. As a result of increased levels of physical activity, improvements on several fitness/health parameters occurred.

Little is known about relationships between a positive family history of breast cancer, perception of risk, and lifestyle behaviors. This qualitative study explored factors involved in formulation of perceived breast cancer risk and the association between risk perception and lifestyle behaviors in white and black women with a family history of breast cancer. Eligible participants were North Carolina residents in the Sister Study, a nationwide study of environmental and genetic risk factors for breast cancer among women aged 35 to 74 who have at least one sister diagnosed with breast cancer. Personal interviews were conducted with thirty-two women, twenty white and twelve black. While many had a heightened sense of risk and perceived family history as a main risk factor, 16% considered themselves at low or average risk for breast cancer and Gail risk scores did not correspond to perceived risk. Many women were unaware of associations between lifestyle behaviors and breast cancer risk. Eleven women, six black and five white, reported making healthy lifestyle changes because of family history; dietary change was most frequently reported. These findings may be important for future developers of breast cancer education programs for both white and black women with a family history of breast cancer.

We explored the postulated association between soy foods and colorectal cancer incidence by analyzing 13 epidemiological studies: 3 ecological, 1 cohort, and 9 case control. Seven case-control studies evaluated the association between soy intake and colon or colorectal cancer (2,008 cases). Point estimates generally suggest an inverse association between higher soy consumption and colon cancer onset, although nearly all of the confidence intervals overlap 1.0. Two of the nine case-control studies focused on adenomas as the outcome (675 total cases), and results for these studies also showed inverse associations. Of the six case-control studies that evaluated the association between soy consumption and rectal cancer (732 cases), the point estimates generally suggest an inverse association with unfermented soy consumption and rectal cancer onset but not fermented soy products. These studies have many limitations, particularly with regard to dietary measurement issues, such as incomplete assessment of soy intake, inadequate quantification, and inappropriate time period for cancer prevention as well as inadequate adjustment for confounders. Most of these issues would contribute to underestimations of any association. In spite of the methodological issues, the available evidence is compelling enough to warrant further study utilizing stronger methodology.

Many women with early-stage breast cancer choose breast reconstruction following mastectomy with the goal to improve physical and psychological quality of life. Breast reconstruction procedures vary in surgical complexity, types of postsurgical complications, and time to recovery, all of which can affect a women's well-being. Although there is a growing body of literature on the satisfaction with aesthetic outcomes following breast reconstruction, there is little research addressing the recovery process. This qualitative study explores woman's physical and emotional recovery experiences. Findings may be useful for improving educational and counseling services for women who undergo breast cancer reconstructive surgeries.

Background The objective of this study was to determine whether non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivors are meeting select American Cancer Society (ACS) health-related guidelines for cancer survivors, as well as to examine relationships between these lifestyle factors and health- related quality of life (HRQoL) and post-traumatic stress (PTS). Methods A cross-sectional sample of 566 NHL survivors was identified from the tumor registries of two large academic medical centers. Respondents were surveyed about physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, body weight, tobacco use, HRQoL using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 and post-traumatic stress using the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian form. Lifestyle cluster scores were generated based on whether individuals met health guidelines and multiple linear regression was used to evaluate relationships between lifestyle behaviors and HRQoL scores and PTS scores. Results 11% of participants met all four ACS health recommendations. Meeting all four healthy recommendations was related to better physical and mental quality of life (β = 0.57, p <0.0001; β = 0.47, p = 0.002) and to lower PTS scores (β = −0.41, p = 0.01). Conclusions NHL survivors who met more ACS health-related guidelines appeared to have better HRQoL and less PTS. Unfortunately many survivors are not meeting these guidelines, which could impact their overall well-being and longevity.

Most women were not meeting physical activity recommendations, particularly Hispanic/Latina women. Perceptions of exercise-related beliefs differed, although not significantly, across racial and ethnic groups. More perceived exercise barriers existed for Hispanic/Latina women compared to Caucasian and African American women, which may indicate sociocultural differences.

Objectives To examine lifestyle behaviors among non-Hispanic Black and White women with a family history of breast cancer and determine the extent to which they meet American Cancer Society (ACS) Nutrition and Physical Activity Recommendations for Breast Cancer Prevention. Method Cross-sectional data from 44,364 women enrolled in the Sister Study (2009), a study of sisters of women with breast cancer within the U.S., were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were used to examine body mass index and lifestyle behaviors (e.g., exercise, diet, and smoking) and to determine percentages of women meeting ACS recommendations. Results Black women consumed a lower percentage of calories from fat (mean 36.90% vs. 37.17%) and were more likely to meet ACS alcohol recommendations than Whites. White women consumed more fruits and vegetables/day (mean 4.81 vs. 4.41) than Black women and were more likely to meet ACS guidelines for physical activity (26.4% vs. 18.2%) and body mass index (42.5% vs. 16.7%). Conclusion Despite an elevated risk for breast cancer due to a family history of breast cancer, the majority of women were no more likely than women in the general population to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors. These women may benefit from lifestyle behavior risk-reduction counseling.

In 2008, approximately 500,000 women in the United States underwent breast surgery, either cosmetic surgery or reconstruction following mastectomy for breast cancer. There is a growing body of literature on women's motivations to have these types of surgical procedures and on satisfaction with the aesthetic outcomes, but little is known about the information needs and expectations of women who choose to undergo these procedures. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to gain a better understanding of the informational needs of women who underwent breast augmentation, breast reduction, or breast reconstruction following breast cancer surgery.