Nutrition and cancer

Question 1

The most common cancers in the UK

Answer 1

• Women: breast, lung, colorectal, corpus uteri, melanoma

- Men: prostate, colorectal, lung, melanoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Question 2

What is the continuous update project? What does evidence need to be convincing?

Answer 2

• a group of researchers dedicated to synthesising the evidence for cancer risk factors to inform policy making
• convincing evidence is supported by at least 2 cohort studies, has minimal heterogeneity, exhibits a dose-response effect and supported by robust evidence in lab studies

Question 3

Why is it important to have biological processes which underpin cancer risks?

Answer 3

• if understand the mechanism behind why a certain substance causes cancer, it means we can better inform the public on how to avoid

Question 4

BMI and cancer risk

Answer 4

• evidence that higher BMI confers greater risk of endometrium, oesophagus, kidney and liver cancer

Question 5

PA and cancer risk

Answer 5

• evidence that PA is likely to reduce cancer risk in endometrium, colorectal and post-menopausal breast cancer

Question 6

Dietary factors (5) and cancer risk

Answer 6

• wholegrains, fibre and calcium containing foods and reduce risk of colorectal cancer
• red and processed meat increase risk colorectal cancer
• alcohol increases the risk of mouth, larynx, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, liver and breast cancer
• coffee decreases risk of lier and endometrial cancer
• glycemic load increases the risk of endometrial cancer

Question 7

Special circumstances dietary factors and cancer risk (5)

Answer 7

• arsenic in water increases risk of lung, bladder and skin cancer
• mate increases oesophageal cancer
• salting foods increases stomach cancer
• high dose beta-carotene supplements increase lung cancer in previous and current smokers
• lactation decreases breast cancer for mothers

Question 8

Relationship between adult height and cancer risk

Answer 8

there is some evidence that high infant growth (as evidenced by adult height) may increase the risk of colorectal, ovarian, breast, pancreas, kidney, endometrial, prostate, skin cancer

Question 9

What factors increase and decrease risk of obesity? (An indirect factor for increasing cancer risk)

Answer 9

• Increases risk: children screentime, fast food, western diets, sugar-sweetened drinks
• decreases risk: walking, aerobic exercise, Mediterranean diet, being breastfed

Question 10

Key recommendations for reducing cancer incidence and mortality (10)

Answer 10

1) Be a healthy weight
2) Be physically active
3) Eat a diet rich in wholegrains, vegetables, fruits and beans
4) limit consumption of fast foods
5) Limit consumption of red and processed meats
6) limit consumption of alcohol
7) limit consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages
8) do not use supplements for cancer prevention
9) breastfeed baby if you can
10) after a cancer diagnosis, follow recommendations

Question 11

NOURISHING policy (2013) framework

Answer 11

• N: nutrition labels and standards on health claims
• O: offer healthy food in public places
• U: use economic tools to address affordability issues
• R: restrict food advertising
• I: improve nutritional quality of wholefood supply
• S: set incentives to create a healthy food environment
• H: harness food supply chains for coherence with health
• I: inform people about food and nutrition
• N: nutrition advice in healthcare settings
• G: give nutrition advice and skills

Question 12

MOVING policy (2018) framework

Answer 12

• M: make opportunities for PA in schools
• O: offer PA opportunities in workplaces
• V: visualise and enact structures for PA in surroundings
• I: implement transport structure for PA in societies
• N: normalise PA through public communication
• G: give PA training in healthcare settings