EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF LIFESTYLE FACTORS ON CANCER RELAPSE: A STUDY OF RECURRENT CANCER

By Jhon Joseph S. Atendido and Julia C. Camo

INTRODUCTION

Cancer is a diverse range of illnesses that can affect any part of the body and is also referred to as malignant tumors or neoplasms. One of

the defining features of cancer is the rapid production of abnormal cells that grow uncontrollably, spreading beyond their usual boundaries and

invading neighboring tissues, which is known as metastasis. Unfortunately, metastasis is the primary cause of death in cancer patients. (World

Health Organization, 2020) Although there have been significant advancements in cancer treatment, it continues to be a significant cause of

death worldwide. In 2020, an estimated 19.3 million new cases of cancer and 10 million cancer-related deaths occurred worldwide, with lung,

breast, and colorectal cancer being the most prevalent, according to research conducted by Jacques Ferlay et al. (2020).

With the advancement of technologies, there are many treatments to fight and even make cancer cells gone. Namely, surgery,

chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. (Hosseinzadeh et al., 2017) But under certain circumstances cancer can merge after a period of remission, it is

referred to as a relapse, which occurs when some cancer cells remain despite attempts to destroy them. These cells can grow and create

symptoms in the same or another place of the body, and they may have been dormant for a time before resuming growth. The reason for this
reactivation remains unknown. Furthermore, new cancer unrelated to the previous malignancy may be identified in rare situations, which is

known as a second primary cancer. (Pruthi, M.D. et al., 2021) Furthermore, there are three types of recurrence: local, regional, and distant. The

reappearance of cancer in the same or close place without spreading to other parts of the body or lymph nodes is referred to as a local recurrence.

Regional recurrence occurs in the lymph nodes and tissues close to the original malignancy. Distant recurrence, often known as metastatic

cancer, is the spread of cancer to locations that are far from the original site of the disease. (American Cancer Society).

Wadden, Tronieri, and Butryn (2020), state that lifestyle refers to the habits, behaviors, and daily activities that people engage in,

including their diet, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and other health-related behaviors. In addition, Jong-Whan Choi and Tuyen

M.N. Hua (2021) claim that lifestyle behaviors affect cancer. Based on their study, factors like alcohol consumption, smoking, and diet plan can

increase career risk but with the modification of lifestyle behaviors, it can be helpful for cancer prevention and treatment. Having said that,

studies about lifestyle factors are only proven associated with cancer prevention. Thus, the association between relapse cancer and lifestyle

factors remains unknown. Therefore, the researchers will do thorough research on this topic to provide answers to these issues.

To achieve this, the objectives are:

1. to determine the association between various lifestyle factors on the risk of cancer relapse in an individual who has previously been diagnosed
with cancer
2. to know if there are any interactions or synergistic effects between lifestyle factors, such as the combined impact of diet and physical activity,
on the risk of cancer relapse in individuals with recurrent cancer
3. to explore the lifestyle modification, both before and after a cancer diagnosis, including changes in diet, physical activity, stress management,
and tobacco/alcohol use, that influence the likelihood of cancer relapse
4. to learn about the differences in lifestyle behaviors, including dietary patterns, physical activity levels, stress management techniques, and
tobacco/alcohol use, between recurrent cancer cases and non-relapsed cancer
RESEARCH MATRIX
Objective
1. To determine the
association between
various lifestyle
factors on the risk of
cancer relapse in an
individual who has
previously been
diagnosed with cancer.
2. To know if there are
any interactions or
synergistic effects
between lifestyle
factors, such as the
combined impact of
diet and physical
activity, on the risk of
cancer relapse in
individuals with
Data to be generated
The association between
various lifestyle factors on
the risk of cancer relapse in
an individual who has
previously been diagnosed
with cancer.
The interaction or
synergistic effects between
different lifestyle factors
such as the combined
impact of diet and physical
activity on the risk of cancer
relapse in individuals with
recurrent cancer.
How to generate the data
By conducting an in-depth
interview with 100 people
who have been previously
diagnosed with cancer.
Then, collecting, grouping,
and analyzing the data.
By conducting an in-depth
interview with 100 people
who have been diagnosed
with recurrent cancer. Then,
collecting, grouping, and
analyzing the data.
Analysis required
Regression Analysis
- We are trying to
predict if there is an
association between
lifestyle factors and
the risk of cancer
relapse. Therefore,
we will estimate the
best straight line to
summarize the
association.
Regression Analysis
- We are trying to
predict there are
interactions between
lifestyle factors and
recurrent cancer
patients. Therefore,
we will estimate the
best straight line to
 summarize the
recurrent cancer. interactions between
the two.
The difference between By conducting an in-depth Test of Difference: Paired T-
before and after lifestyle interview with 100 people Test
3. To explore the lifestyle modification on cancer with cancer to ask about the
- Through hypothesis
modification, both diagnosis does or does not before and after a cancer
testing, we assume
before and after a influence the likelihood of diagnosis to learn the
that before lifestyle
cancer diagnosis, cancer relapse. influence of lifestyle factors
modification can
including changes in on the likelihood of cancer
influence the
diet, physical activity, relapse. Then, collecting,
likelihood of cancer
stress management, grouping, and analyzing the
relapse, and then
and tobacco/alcohol data.
through paired t-test
use, influence the to check if there is a
likelihood of cancer significance or not
relapse. between the before
and after lifestyle
modification.
4. To learn about the The significant difference in By conducting an in-depth Test of Difference: T-Test
differences in lifestyle lifestyle behaviors, including interview with 50 people
- Through hypothesis
behaviors, including dietary patterns, physical who have been diagnosed
testing, we assume
dietary patterns, activity levels, stress with recurrent cancer and
that there are
physical activity levels, management techniques, 50 people with non-relapsed
differences in lifestyle
stress management and tobacco/alcohol use, cancer. Then, collecting,
behavior between
techniques, and between recurrent cancer grouping, and analyzing the
recurrent cancer
tobacco/alcohol use, cases and non-relapsed data.
cases and non-
between recurrent cancer.
relapsed cancer, and
cancer cases and non-
then through t-test to
 check if there is a
relapsed cancer.
significance or not.