More than 10 million cancer survivors are alive in the US today, and there is a need to promote the health and well being of these individuals. Prolonging the survival of cancer patients, including preventing a second primary cancer and other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, is one important goal. Epidemiologic studies have shown that physical activity can prevent the development of several cancers. Additionally, in studies of the general population (not focusing on cancer survivors), physical activity also has been shown to decrease the rates of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the US, and to delay mortality. It would thus seem reasonable to assume that physical activity in cancer patients favorably affects survival. While several studies have shown that physical activity is associated with better quality of life in cancer survivors, there are almost no data regarding whether physical activity improves survival among these individuals. To provide information, we propose to take advantage of the Harvard Alumni Health Study, an ongoing cohort study, to examine whether physical activity in men with cancer can improve survival. In 1988, 1,683 men (mean age, 67 years) with physician-diagnosed cancer (diagnosed a median of 7 years ago), returned a health questionnaire with detailed information on physical activity, as well as other health habits and medical history. On the questionnaire, they provided consent to contact their physicians. We are seeking funds to ascertain information on cancer stage and treatment from alumni physicians. Between 1988 and 1998 (the last year of follow-up available), 566 men died;297 from cancer. We also seek funds to ascertain additional deaths that occurred among these men after 1998 to the present. We will obtain death certificates and ascertain cause of death. We will then examine whether physical activity predicts overall survival and survival from cancer mortality among these men. We will further examine the amount and kinds of physical activity needed to improve survival. With the additional decedents that we will identify under this application, we estimate that we will have sufficient power for the hypotheses of interest. This study will add important information because of the large number of cancer survivors in the US. It will help clarify whether physical activity, an inexpensive, modifiable behavior with little adverse effect, can prolong survival in cancer patients.

Public Health Relevance

More than 10 million cancer survivors are alive in the US today. While physical activity has been shown to improve quality of life in cancer patients, little is known about whether physical activity is associated with better survival among patients with cancer. This proposal seeks to provide information on whether physical activity is associated with lower all-cause and cancer mortality rates among cancer survivors.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
5R03CA130068-02
Application #
7842672
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1-SRRB-D (O1))
Program Officer
Mahabir, Somdat
Project Start
2009-06-01
Project End
2012-05-31
Budget Start
2010-06-01
Budget End
2012-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$72,625
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
149617367
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Shiroma, Eric J; Sesso, Howard D; Moorthy, M V et al. (2014) Do moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity physical activities reduce mortality rates to the same extent? J Am Heart Assoc 3:e000802
Lee, I-Min; Wolin, Kathleen Y; Freeman, Sarah E et al. (2014) Physical activity and survival after cancer diagnosis in men. J Phys Act Health 11:85-90
Gray, L; Lee, I-M; Sesso, H D et al. (2012) Association of body mass index in early adulthood and middle age with future site-specific cancer mortality: the Harvard Alumni Health Study. Ann Oncol 23:754-9
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Shiroma, E J; Sesso, H D; Lee, I-M (2012) Physical activity and weight gain prevention in older men. Int J Obes (Lond) 36:1165-9
Gray, Linsay; Lee, I-Min; Sesso, Howard D et al. (2011) Blood pressure in early adulthood, hypertension in middle age, and future cardiovascular disease mortality: HAHS (Harvard Alumni Health Study). J Am Coll Cardiol 58:2396-403
Gray, Linsay; Lee, I-Min; Sesso, Howard D et al. (2011) Body weight in early and mid-adulthood in relation to subsequent coronary heart disease mortality: 80-year follow-up in the Harvard Alumni Study. Arch Intern Med 171:1768-70; discussion 1770
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