| Many women who battle breast cancer
will tell you it's a life-changing experience. However, a new study shows that
for many{{U}} (51) {{/U}}, the changes aren't always positive or
permanent. Beth Snoke has watched her mother and both grandmothers battle and survive breast{{U}} (52) {{/U}}So when she was diagnosed, there was no doubt in her mind{{U}} (53) {{/U}}she had to do. "I do exactly what the doctors say as far as the medicine that I'm on, as{{U}} (54) {{/U}}as the vitamins, the diet, and the fitness. And I can't stress enough{{U}} (55) {{/U}}important that is," says Beth Snoke. But a surprising new study shows that{{U}} (56) {{/U}}every woman who beats breast cancer is getting that message. In fact, nearly 40% of them say even{{U}} (57) {{/U}}surviving breast cancer, they haven't made significant changes in the{{U}} (58) {{/U}}they eat or how much they exercise. "Not all survivors are taking advantage of this teachable moment and making positive health changes in{{U}} (59) {{/U}}life," says Electra Paskett, PhD, at Ohio State University's Comprehensive Cancer Center. Paskett says diet and exercise have been proven to not only help women feel better during and after treatment, they may{{U}} (60) {{/U}}play a role in preventing some cancers from coming back{{U}} (61) {{/U}} growing evidence, some women just aren't listening. "Colon cancer survivors{{U}} (62) {{/U}}exercise have actually been shown to have improved survival rates. So, yes, it is true that perhaps by making some of these healthy choices we can actually increase their health," says Paskett. As a breast cancer survivor{{U}} (63) {{/U}}, Paskett knows first hand how much difference diet and exercise can{{U}} (64) {{/U}}The challenge, she says, is to get more survivors to be more like Beth, during and after treatment. Experts say exercising more and eating a healthier diet can also cut{{U}} (65) {{/U}}on stress and help women overcome depression. There are more than 2 million breast cancer survivors living in the U.S. Of those, nearly a million have yet to change their diet or exercise routines. |