When things don’t add up: challenges of a lifestyle adherence score: longitudinal associations of body composition, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and diet with quality of life and symptoms in colorectal cancer survivors

People who have, or have had, colorectal cancer can often be very tired for years to come. This has a major impact on their perceived quality of life. Lifestyle advice on how to achieve the best quality of life is currently based on general advice on how to prevent colorectal cancer. Over the past four years, PhD research has been conducted in Maastricht on what advice may be important for survivors. Most participants in the EnCoRe (Energy for life after COleREctal cancer) study adhered to some of the individual lifestyle recommendations from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), but for all there was room for improvement. More physical activity, and more vegetable, fruit, and alcohol consumption, and less fast food, sugary drinks and an increase in fat and muscle mass were associated with better quality of life and less fatigue between 6 weeks and 24 months after treatment. This is one of the first studies worldwide to follow this group for two years after diagnosis, looking so broadly at all aspects of lifestyle with quality of life. Ultimately, further research should lead to targeted recommendations, how people can modify their lifestyle, thereby experiencing more control and better quality of life.