Cancer Prevention
Which of the following lifestyle habits lowers the risk of developing breast cancer?
A. Maintaining a BMI
B. Decreasing Alcohol intake
C. Smoking only on weekends
D. Wearing Sunscreen only on really hot days
B. Decreasing Alcohol intake
Which symptom can be helped by low-intensity aerobic exercise during treatment?
A. Fatigue
B. Vomiting
C. Vision loss
D. Diarrhoea
A. Fatigue
Low intensity exercise can help you stay fit, allows for the fatigue to not become worse. Short aerobic and cardio sessions or strength and resistance where you can take rests between sets.
What is one benefit of exercising during cancer treatment?
A. Reduces effectiveness of treatment
B. Increases fatigue
C. Reduces treatment side effects
D. Delays recovery
C. Reduces treatment side effects
Which of the following is considered a cancer-protective dietary choice?
A. Refined grains
B. Sugary drinks
C. Processed meat
D. Whole grains and beans
D. Whole grains and beans
Which of the following reduces your risk of skin cancer?
A. Tanning outdoors during noon hours
B. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat
C. Skipping sunscreen on cloudy days
D. Using tanning beds instead of sunlight
B. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat
What is the recommended amount of moderate aerobic exercise per week for cancer pre-week?
150 minutes
What is the recommended moderate level of exercise after treatment or for management of cancer?
Total of 2 and ½ to 4 hours of moderate intensity
What is the recommended strength or resistance training to build muscles needed for the management of cancer?
2-3 sessions
What are some food that decrease the risk of getting breast cancer? Name 2?
1. Fruits
2. Vegetables
3. Whole grains
4. Beans
What is the minimum SPF recommended for daily sun protection?
SPF 30
A 45-year-old man visits his GP for a routine check-up. He has no prior health issues but eats lots of takeaway and doesn’t exercise. What is the MOST appropriate lifestyle advice to reduce cancer risk?
A. Add multivitamins
B. Follow a Mediterranean-style diet
C. Increase dairy intake
D. Avoid sun exposure entirely
Best Answer: B
B. Follow a Mediterranean-style diet
A cancer survivor has developed tight, weak muscles after hormone therapy. What is the BEST recommendation?
A. Take painkillers and rest
B. Walk occasionally
C. Avoid exercise to prevent injury
D. Perform resistance and strength training
D. Perform resistance and strength training
If muscles aren't used they can get smaller and weaker. Lost muscle strength is a side effect of hormone and steroid treatment. Some treatments leave muscles tight. Strength and resistance training improves muscle condition.
A 55-year-old prostate cancer survivor wants to improve his mood and energy levels. What exercise approach would provide the MOST benefit?
A. Short, low-intensity cardio and strength sessions
B. Yoga only
C. Swimming once a week
D. Taking supplements
A. Short, low-intensity cardio and strength sessions
A 47-year-old patient wants to change his diet to reduce cancer risk. He currently eats lots of red meat and few vegetables. What is the BEST advice?
A. Replace red meat with fish and legumes
B. Take multivitamins daily
C. Eat more dairy and carbs
D. Eat fruit juice instead of fruit
A. Replace red meat with fish and legumes- Closely aligns with Mediterranean principles and risk reduction for bowel and other cancers.
A 37-year-old construction worker works outdoors all day. He doesn’t wear sunscreen but wears a hat. What’s the MOST effective additional step to reduce his skin cancer risk?
A. Wear sunglasses
B. Stay hydrated
C. Apply SPF 30+ sunscreen every 2 hours
D. Wear cologne with UV filters
C. Apply SPF 30+ sunscreen every 2 hours
A 28-year-old woman insists that tanning beds are a safer way to get tanned compared to sun exposure. What is the BEST response by her physician?
A. Tanning beds are only harmful if used weekly
B. Use SPF 30 if using tanning beds
C. Tanning beds are as harmful as natural sun exposure
D. Tanning beds only cause skin dryness, not cancer
C. Tanning beds are as harmful as natural sun exposure
A 60-year-old man is undergoing chemotherapy for colon cancer. He feels exhausted most days and has lost weight. He asks about exercise. What is the BEST recommendation?
A. Avoid exercise until treatment is completed
B. Start with low-intensity exercise and build gradually
C. Run daily to rebuild energy
D. Begin heavy weightlifting for muscle mass
B. Start with low-intensity exercise and build gradually
A 55-year-old woman with a recent diagnosis of breast cancer has started chemotherapy. She reports feeling more tired and has reduced her physical activity significantly. She is worried about losing bone strength.
Which of the following is the best advice to help maintain her bone strength and reduce the risk of osteoporosis?
A) Rely only on calcium supplements without making changes to physical activity.
B) Delay any physical activity until after completion of chemotherapy.
C) Start resistance training and weight-bearing exercises as tolerated to support bone health.
D) Avoid exercise to prevent injury while undergoing chemotherapy.
E) Focus solely on low-impact exercises like swimming or cycling.
C. Start resistance training and weight-bearing exercises as tolerated — Correct. These exercises stimulate bone remodeling and help maintain bone density during cancer treatment.
A 45-year-old man with a family history of breast cancer wants advice on dietary changes to reduce his cancer risk. Which of the following dietary changes is MOST effective in lowering his risk?
A) Increase intake of refined grains and reduce vegetable consumption
B) Increase consumption of red and processed meats
C) Replace fruits and vegetables with high-fat dairy products
D) Increase intake of trans fats and processed snacks
E) Limit foods high in calories, added sugars, and saturated fats
E) Limit foods high in calories, added sugars, and saturated fats.
A 25-year-old woman presents for a skin health consultation. She regularly uses tanning beds multiple times per week and believes they are a safer alternative to natural sunlight because they are controlled environments. She has a fair complexion and a history of intermittent sunburns. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate and evidence-based explanation the doctor should provide regarding her tanning bed use and skin cancer risk?
A) Tanning beds primarily emit UVA rays, which are less harmful than UVB, so occasional use poses minimal cancer risk.
B) Frequent tanning bed use significantly increases the risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, similar to or exceeding the risk from natural sunlight exposure.
C) Tanning beds filter out harmful UV rays, making them safer than unprotected sunlight exposure.
D) Applying tanning oils during tanning bed use protects the skin from UV damage and reduces cancer risk.
E) Using tanning beds before sun exposure can help build skin resistance and reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer.
E) Using tanning beds before sun exposure can help build skin resistance and reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer.
A 50-year-old woman with a BMI of 32 has a family history of breast cancer. She recently switched from smoking to chewing tobacco gum, believing it’s a healthier alternative. What is the MOST appropriate medical advice regarding her cancer risk?
A. Chewing tobacco mainly causes heart disease, not cancer
B. Smoking causes increased risk of cancer, therefore for someone who is addicted switching to tobacco gum decreases the risk of cancer.
C. Chewing tobacco increases the risk of mouth, throat, and pancreas cancers
D. There is not enough evidence to determine the effects of tobacco gum
C. Chewing tobacco increases the risk of mouth, throat, and pancreas cancers
A 49-year-old woman recently completed radiation therapy. She wants to improve her long-term health and avoid recurrence. What is the BEST exercise prescription?
A. 2.5–4 hours moderate aerobic activity plus 2–3 strength sessions weekly
B. 60 minutes of cardio twice per week
C. 15 minutes of yoga daily
D. Only resistance training, no cardio
A. 2.5–4 hours moderate aerobic activity plus 2–3 strength sessions weekly
A 45-year-old man presents with swelling of his right arm that started 3 months after undergoing surgery and radiation therapy for breast cancer. On examination, there is pitting edema and skin thickening. He is concerned about the swelling and wants to know how best to manage it.
Which of the following is the most appropriate recommendation to reduce the risk and severity of his lymphedema?
A) Complete avoidance of all physical activity in the affected limb to prevent worsening of swelling.
B) Regular exercise involving gradual, controlled movements of the affected limb.
C) Elevation of the limb only during sleep, avoiding elevation during the day.
D) Daily use of compression garments without any exercise.
E) Massage therapy alone without exercise or compression.
B) Regular exercise involving gradual, controlled movements of the affected limb — This is the best answer because exercise helps improve lymph flow, reduces swelling, and improves limb function.
A 50-year-old man with obesity asks how diet influences cancer risk. Which dietary habit would be MOST protective?
A) Eating foods high in saturated and trans fats frequently
B) Prioritising plant-based foods such as beans, whole grains, and vegetables
C) Eating mostly refined grains and sugary snacks
D) Adding butter and cream to every meal for energy
E) Consuming large amounts of red meat and processed meats
B. Prioritising plant-based foods such as beans, whole grains, and vegetables
A 38-year-old outdoor construction worker with fair skin and a family history of melanoma is seeking advice to reduce his skin cancer risk. He reports working outside from 8 am to 5 pm daily and using tanning beds on weekends. Which of the following advice is MOST important for him to follow to reduce his risk of skin cancer?
A) Avoid sun exposure only during peak UV hours between 10 am and 4 pm, but tanning bed use is acceptable if limited to weekends.
B) Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, reapply every 2 hours or after sweating, wear protective clothing, seek shade especially between 10 am and 4 pm, and avoid tanning beds entirely.
C) Use tanning oil with high SPF to protect the skin during sun exposure and tanning bed sessions.
D) Wearing sunglasses and hats alone is sufficient protection from UV rays during outdoor work.
E) Getting gradual sun exposure without sunscreen helps the skin build natural resistance, decreasing melanoma risk.
B) Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, reapply every 2 hours or after sweating, wear protective clothing, seek shade especially between 10 am and 4 pm, and avoid tanning beds entirely