Physical activity and quality of life in African American cancer survivors: The Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors study

Abstract

Background The benefit of regular exercise in improving cancer outcomes is well established. The American Cancer Society (ACS) released a recommendation that cancer survivors should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (PA) per week; however, few report meeting this recommendation. This study examined the patterns and correlates of meeting ACS PA recommendations in the Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (ROCS) cohort of African American cancer survivors. Methods Detroit ROCS participants completed baseline and yearly follow‐up surveys to update their health and health behaviors, including PA. This study examined participation in PA by select characteristics and reported health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) as measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy and Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System instruments. Results Among the first 1500 ROCS participants, 60% reported participating in regular PA, with 24% reporting ≥150 min/wk. Although there were no differences by sex, prostate cancer survivors were the most likely to report participating in regular PA, whereas lung cancer survivors were the least likely (P = .022). Survivors who reported participating in regular PA reported higher HRQOL (P < .001) and lower depression (P = .040). Conclusions Just 24% of African American cancer survivors reported meeting the ACS guidelines for PA at the baseline, but it was encouraging to see increases in activity over time. Because of the established benefits of regular exercise observed in this study and others, identifying and reducing barriers to regular PA among African American cancer survivors are critical for improving outcomes and minimizing disparities.

Social needs and health‐related quality of life among African American cancer survivors: Results from the Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors study

“…Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (ROCS) is a population‐based cohort designed to investigate associations between medical history, health behaviors, financial factors, and health‐related outcomes among African American cancer survivors 24,25 . Consistent with the National Cancer Institute definition of survivor , eligible participants include both survivors in active treatment and those who have completed treatment 26 .…”

Continued smoking in African American cancer survivors: The Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors Cohort

“…The Detroit ROCS study includes patients with first primary cancers (diagnosed from January 1, 2013 and continuing through December 31, 2021) whose self-reported race was Black or AA. Detailed methods have been published elsewhere 19 literacy, health-related QOL (presence of depression or anxiety), and social support. Participants are also queried regarding past and current cigarette smoking status, including smoking status at the time of the cancer diagnosis, duration of smoking (in years), age started smoking, smoking cessation, and whether other members in the household smoke cigarettes.…”

“…The Detroit ROCS study includes patients with first primary cancers (diagnosed from January 1, 2013 and continuing through December 31, 2021) whose self‐reported race was Black or AA. Detailed methods have been published elsewhere 19 but briefly, cases are identified from MDCSS and after providing informed consent, answer a structured survey. Questions include medical history, family history of cancer, lifestyle factors, access to health care, healthy literacy, health‐related QOL (presence of depression or anxiety), and social support.…”

Work changes and individual, cancer‐related, and work‐related predictors of decreased work participation among African American cancer survivors

“…Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (ROCS) is a population-based cohort designed to investigate associations between medical history, health behaviors, financial factors, and health-related outcomes among African American cancer survivors. 23,24 Survivors were eligible to join the cohort if they were diagnosed with primary, invasive breast, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer since 1 January 2013 and identified through the Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System (MDCSS), a population-based cancer registry covering metropolitan Detroit and a founding participant in NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program. The Wayne State University Institutional Review Board approved this research.…”