Finishing breast cancer treatment doesn’t always mean the challenges are over. Many survivors continue to experience fatigue, weight gain, menopausal symptoms, and other side effects that can affect their daily lives and overall well-being. Researchers also note that breast cancer survivors have an increased risk of long-term health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, bone loss, and changes in gut health. Maintaining a healthy diet after treatment can be difficult due to treatment-related metabolic changes, fatigue, and confusion about what foods are best to eat.
What Did Researchers Study?
– 72 breast cancer survivors enrolled in a 12-week lifestyle program, and 46 completed the full program and follow-up evaluation.
– Participants received Mediterranean diet-based frozen meals each week.
– They also completed an online educational program focused on nutrition, healthy lifestyle habits, and cancer recovery.
– Researchers measured changes in body weight, Mediterranean diet adherence, fatigue, and menopausal symptoms before and after the program.
What Did the Study Find?
Researchers found several meaningful improvements after the 12-week program:
– Mediterranean diet adherence improved significantly, with average MEDAS scores increasing from 6.7 to 7.9 (p < 0.001).
– The percentage of participants with high Mediterranean diet adherence doubled from 8.7% to 17.4%.
– Average BMI decreased from 26.9 to 26.3 kg/m² (p < 0.001).
– Menopausal symptoms improved significantly, with average symptom scores decreasing from 23.5 to 17.5 (p < 0.001).
– The percentage of women with moderate menopausal symptoms decreased from 82.6% to 63%.
– Fatigue scores did not improve significantly (p = 0.37). However, 28% of participants reported feeling they had more energy after the program and attributed this to eating more fiber, omega-3 fats, and fermented foods.
Why Does This Matter?
Recovering from breast cancer involves more than treating the cancer itself. Many women continue to manage symptoms that affect their quality of life months or even years after treatment. This study suggests that a Mediterranean diet combined with nutrition education may help improve healthy eating habits, support a healthy weight, and reduce menopausal symptoms during survivorship. While fatigue scores did not improve significantly, many participants reported feeling more energetic after making these dietary changes.
Main Takeaways
– Many breast cancer survivors continue to experience symptoms long after treatment ends.
– A Mediterranean diet program significantly improved diet quality and menopausal symptoms.
– Participants also experienced modest improvements in body weight.
– Although fatigue scores did not significantly improve, many participants reported feeling they had more energy.
– Nutrition education and practical meal support may help survivors build healthy habits that last beyond treatment.
Source: Evaluation of a 12-week Mediterranean diet-based nutritional and educational programme for breast cancer survivors: impact on BMI, fatigue, dietary adherence, and menopausal symptoms.