Cancer survivors are no more likely to stop smoking or cut down on alcohol, according to research published today.
Although a diagnosis of cancer is often described as “a wake-up call” to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle, this appears to be a myth, according to research in the British Journal of Cancer.
The study of more than 5,000 adults found that cancer survivors were no more likely than the general population to quit smoking or cut their intake of alcohol. The study is the first in Britain to track smoking, alcohol and physical activity from before to after a cancer diagnosis.
By comparing people who received a cancer diagnosis with those who remained cancer free over four years, researchers found that cancer survivors