Breast cancer survivorship: a comprehensive review of long-term medical issues and lifestyle recommendations

Abstract

As breast cancer becomes a chronic condition rather than a life-threatening illness, survivors not only have the challenge of dealing with multiple long-term side effects of treatment protocols, but may also be forced to address the preexisting comorbidities of their therapies, which often include multiple other issues. It is imperative that the information available regarding survivorship issues be accessible in an organized and useful format. This article is a modest attempt to provide a comprehensive review of the long-term medical issues.

Figure 1.

Approximate food calories per pound. Green indicates nutrient-rich foods that should be a major part of a healthy diet; red indicates foods that are low in nutrition and high in calories and should be eliminated completely or consumed in smaller amounts; yellow indicates foods that may be nutrient rich or calorie dense.

Figure 2.

Relationship between lifestyle management and death. The measurement and treatment of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, and depression are a key strategy to prevent disease and death. Heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, cancer, and cognitive impairment are influenced by unhealthy behaviors and lifestyle. Unhealthy lifestyle choices subsequently lead to endothelial cell injury, endothelial cell dysfunction, and atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis leads to organ damage and disease that can be prevented and treated through healthy lifestyle interventions. Therefore, basic lifestyle habits—healthy eating, active living, cessation of smoking, and developing emotional resilience—may be a future upstream strategy to help us prevent preventable disease, lower health care costs, and save lives.

Figure 1.

Virchow’s triad. CHF = congestive heart failure.

Figure 2.

The essential components of total health.