outcomes in colon, breast and prostate cancer survivors, according to the society.
The new guideline recommends a diet high in vegetables, legumes, fruit and whole grains, and low in red and processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, highly processed foods and refined grain products.
The Mediterranean diet is an example of a healthy diet associated with improved outcomes in prostate cancer patients, according to the ACS.
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It’s unclear how alcohol affects prognosis after a diagnosis for most cancers, but higher alcohol consumption after liver, laryngeal, pharyngeal or head and neck cancer is associated with a higher risk of death from all causes, ACS notes.
The guideline says nutrition and physical activity assessment and counseling should begin as soon as possible after cancer diagnosis and continue throughout treatment and recovery, as needed.
“The good news from this report is that diet and exercise can improve outcomes for survivors of some cancers,” Kamal says.
“However, there is still a lot we don’t know, especially for cancer types that are less common or have lower survival rates, which is why ACS is committed to continuing to conduct and support research on this important topic.”