Prof Cornelia Ulrich talks to ecancer at the European Forum on Oncology in Berlin, May 2012, about the importance of lifestyle changes for cancer patients and how these changes can be as effective as certain drug treatments.

Studies show that many patients ask what they can do to improve their outcomes when diagnosed with cancer and the ability to affect their quality of life during and post therapy.

Prof Ulrich’s work with post menopausal, obese women shows that patients with breast cancer show an increased motivation to help themselves through a change of diet and an addition of exercise. Smoking cessation is another critical variable in prevention.

All of these factors, as well as molecular diagnosis, indicate the importance of keeping the patient’s best interest in mind.