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Background: Gathering information directly from cancer survivors has advanced our understanding of the cancer survivorship experience. However, it is unknown whether surveys can distinguish important subgroups of cancer survivors. This study aimed to describe the current landscape of survey questions used to identify and describe cancer survivors in national cross-sectional studies., Methods: Using publicly available databases, the authors identified national cross-sectional surveys used in the United States within the past 15 years that included a question on self-reported history of cancer. After abstracting questions and response items used to identify cancer survivors, they conducted a descriptive analysis., Results: The authors identified 14 national cross-sectional surveys, with half administered to the general population and the other half administered to cancer survivors. The most common question used to identify cancer survivors was "Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had cancer?" Most surveys had questions asking participants to identify a single cancer type (n = 11), multiple prior cancer diagnoses or types (n = 11), and the time from diagnosis (n = 12). Treatment questions varied from active treatment status to specific treatments received. Questions addressing cancer stage (n = 2), subtypes (n = 1), metastatic status (n = 3), and recurrence (n = 4) were less frequently included., Conclusions: There is no standard method for assessing self-reported cancer history, and this limits the ability to distinguish among potentially important subgroups of survivors. Future cross-sectional surveys that capture nuanced data elements, such as cancer types, stages/subtypes, metastatic/recurrent status, and treatments received, can help to fill important gaps in cancer survivorship research and clinical care., (© 2021 The Authors. Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Cancer Society. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.)

Background: Few studies have examined the relationship of lifestyle factors with mortality among patients with colorectal cancer., Methods: Among NIH-AARP Diet and Health study participants, 4213 colon and 1514 rectal cancer cases were identified through linkage to state cancer registries and determined date and cause of death using the National Death Index. Lifestyle factors were assessed at baseline and included: healthy diet (measured by Healthy Eating Index 2005 [HEI-2005]), body mass index (BMI), physical activity, alcohol consumption and smoking. The association of factors was examined individually and combined into a lifestyle score with 5-year mortality from all-causes, colorectal cancer, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models., Results: Among colon cancer survivors, smokers had increased risk of total mortality (RR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.45-2.08) and colorectal cancer mortality (RR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.17-1.82), compared to never smokers. Obese (BMI, ≥ 30) individuals had increased risk of all death (RR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.02-1.39) and CVD death (RR = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.05-3.23), compared to normal weight (BMI, 18.5 to < 25) individuals. Compared to those with the lowest lifestyle score, those with the highest score had a 34% lower risk of all-cause mortality (RR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.50-0.87). Among rectal cancer survivors, individuals in the highest quintile of HEI-2005 scores had reduced all-cause mortality (RR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.42-0.86) compared to those in the lowest. Higher combined lifestyle scores were associated with a 46% lower risk of total mortality (0.54; 0.32-0.91)., Conclusions: Healthier lifestyle before cancer diagnosis was associated with improved overall survival after diagnosis with colorectal cancer., (Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.)