More than 5% of the US population, 18.1 million people, are cancer survivors. Over the next decade, the number of people who have lived 5 or more years after their cancer diagnosis is projected to increase by approximately 30%. How do we define cancer survivorship? What does cancer rehabilitation look like? And what are lifestyle prevention strategies? We spoke to Amy Comander, MD, medical director of the Mass General Cancer Center-Waltham and director of the Breast Oncology Program at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, about her program PAVING the Path to Wellness in collaboration with Beth Frates, MD, the six key pillars of lifestyle medicine, how you can support your loved one going through a cancer diagnosis, and the long-lasting power of social connection in cancer survivorship.

<p>More than 5% of the US population, 18.1 million people, are <a href="https://www.webmd.com/cancer/understanding-cancer-basics" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.webmd.com/cancer/understanding-cancer-basics&source=gmail&ust=1694103526575000&usg=AOvVaw2PaW4bWKcPNsHSG56SqGBQ">cancer</a> survivors. Over the next decade, the number of people who have lived 5 or more years after their cancer <a href="https://www.webmd.com/cancer/understanding-cancer-treatment#:~:text=Some%20types%20of%20cancer%20%2D%2D,or%20when%20other%20symptoms%20develop." target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.webmd.com/cancer/understanding-cancer-treatment%23:~:text%3DSome%2520types%2520of%2520cancer%2520%252D%252D,or%2520when%2520other%2520symptoms%2520develop.&source=gmail&ust=1694103526575000&usg=AOvVaw25s2qhAlWXNx03rOyrJIl3">diagnosis</a> is projected to increase by approximately 30%. How do we define cancer survivorship? What does cancer rehabilitation look like? And what are lifestyle prevention strategies? We spoke to <a href="https://www.massgeneral.org/doctors/18946/amy-comander" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.massgeneral.org/doctors/18946/amy-comander&source=gmail&ust=1694103526575000&usg=AOvVaw2tLUglmqVE5ZBksqtJeyLS">Amy Comander, MD</a>, medical director of the Mass General Cancer Center-Waltham and director of the Breast Oncology Program at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, about her program <a href="https://www.massgeneral.org/cancer-center/patient-and-family-resources/supportive-care/paving" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.massgeneral.org/cancer-center/patient-and-family-resources/supportive-care/paving&source=gmail&ust=1694103526575000&usg=AOvVaw2P_hx9FfVKSclOJ45sMAxi">PAVING the Path to Wellness</a> in collaboration with Beth Frates, MD, the six key pillars of lifestyle medicine, how you can <a href="https://www.webmd.com/cancer/cancer-treatment-build-support-network" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.webmd.com/cancer/cancer-treatment-build-support-network&source=gmail&ust=1694103526575000&usg=AOvVaw2LXb9Of-5w4dgJDLGeaJDI">support </a>your loved one going through a cancer diagnosis, and the long-lasting power of social connection in cancer survivorship.</p>

WebMD Chief Physician Editor Neha Pathak, MD, and Chief Medical Officer, John Whyte, MD, MPH, explore fascinating stories to find the unexpected things that help us understand our health.

Health Discovered

More than 5% of the US population, 18.1 million people, are  survivors. Over the next decade, the number of people who have lived 5 or more years after their cancer  is projected to increase by approximately 30%. How do we define...