A study looking at lifestyle changes after treatment for bowel cancer

The study team found people in this study were interested in taking part in a lifestyle programme.

29 people who had recently finished treatment for colorectal cancer joined this small study. They took part in a 3 month programme to help change their lifestyle.

The study team gave everyone written information describing the evidence for the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Everyone filled in a questionnaire about their diet, level of activity and alcohol consumption before the study started and when it had finished. The researchers also phoned everyone every 2 weeks to find out how they were getting on. They made suggestions to help people improve their diet, do more exercise and reduce the amount of alcohol they drink.

The researchers found that people were interested in taking part in this study. Most completed the programme and importantly they liked taking part.

The researchers looked at the information that people provided about their diet and physical activity. They found that on average, people were eating a healthier diet and doing more exercise by the end of the study. People also rated their quality of life higher at the end of the study and said the ability to do their usual daily activities had improved.  Alcohol consumption was generally low in this group of people.

The researchers concluded that this study did help people to make changes to their diet and exercise levels. They say that using a combination of written information and telephone consultations was useful way of helping people to make these changes.

We have based this summary on information from the research team. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists (peer reviewed ) and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the research team. We have not analysed the data ourselves.