Lifestyle behaviors like diet and exercise can reduce the risk of cancer, while helping those who have been diagnosed improve their quality of life. That wide-ranging impact is driving a growing field of research into lifestyle factors and their potential role in cancer care and prevention. “We develop, evaluate and test interventions to help empower people to live healthier,” says Roberto Benzo, PhD, a health promotion and behavioral scientist and the director of the Lifestyle Lab at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). “We focus on empowering people to eat and exercise better and improve management of their stress, and to help them find the right solutions at the right time.” Benzo leads a deep dive into connections between cancer and lifestyle factors on our Cancer-Free World Podcast. Watch on the video player above and YouTube, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Exercise, nutrition and stress management are essential for everyone and can be vital components of comprehensive care for cancer patients during and after treatment. “Being active and eating well can help you better tolerate your treatment and manage your symptoms,” Benzo says. “Even after a cancer diagnosis, it’s not too late.” Of course, changing lifestyle behaviors is easier said than done, so Benzo and his team have developed supportive tools, including mobile apps that integrate data from wearable devices, to help patients set realistic goals and see their progress in real time. “The foundation of behavior change starts with awareness,” Benzo explains. “By tracking behaviors like physical activity or sleep — things that are hard to accurately recall — we help people see how they’re actually doing. “That awareness creates an opportunity to align their values with their actions, set meaningful goals and take concrete steps toward them. Technology can play a key role in supporting that process.” Click here to learn more about research and patient support the OSUCCC – James’ Lifestyle Lab. Three principles for building healthier habits While each patient’s unique circumstances require personalized care plans, Benzo shares some recommendations that can benefit everyone interested in adding healthy behaviors to their daily routines: Consistency: “Consistency doesn’t mean you have to do a super-hard workout every day. It means doing something active every day.” Acceptance and awareness: “Often, we’re not happy with where we are, and that can push us to try to get to where we want to go as fast as we can. But, that can prevent consistency because we can't maintain that level.” Social support: “It’s important to have emotional and informational support, and someone to help you do things (tangible support) such as exercise. It doesn’t have to be the same person for all three.” As research in this area continues to expand, its impact grows — providing not only scientific insights, but also emotional and practical support to those navigating cancer. “I've learned so much from cancer patients and survivors about acceptance, compassion and resilience,” Benzo says. “We’re hoping to get all this information out to others to help them feel less alone, and to normalize some of the chaos in their worlds.” Click here to learn all about cancer care and research at The Ohio State University.