Abstract A020: Examining the dietary patterns & quality of life among Latina breast and gynecologic cancer survivors in Avanzado Juntas
Authors: Contreras Sandra I. , Feffer Marina , Prado AnaKaren Manriquez , Visotcky Alexis , Kamaraju Sailaja , Young Staci , Sheean Patricia , Stolley Melinda 
Published: December 2023

Purpose: Cancer survivor guidelines encourage plant-based eating patterns to improve diet quality. Studies examining diet and cancer survivorship among Latina/Hispanic cancer survivors (BGCS) are limited, and few intervention efforts have targeted this historically underserved community.  Avanzado Juntas (AJ) was developed with and for Latina/Hispanic breast and gynecologic cancer (BGSC) survivors to promote weight loss, improve diet quality, and increase physical activity. These analyses describe pre and post-intervention dietary intake quality among AJ participants. Methods: The 16-week AJ intervention was adapted from the evidence-based Moving Forward intervention for African American breast cancer survivors leveraging focus group data and collaborating with our Community Advisory Board (previously presented). AJ was then pilot tested in a randomized trial with 35 Latina/Hispanic BGCS. To be eligible, women had to have a BMI &gt; 25 kg/m2, be diagnosed with non-metastatic breast or gynecologic cancer, and have completed treatment (except hormonal). Participants completed surveys, ASA 24-hour diet recall (x2), and a physical assessment at baseline and post-intervention. Women were then randomized to an interventionist (IG) or self-guided (SG) arm. Both groups received a program workbook. The IG group also received in-person education/supervised exercise classes, cooking classes, and text messaging. Diet quality was scored using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI).  Scores were compared within and between groups using the Wilcoxon rank sign test with a non-parametric analysis of differences. Notably, the AJ pilot began just as the COVID-19 pandemic began, paused, and then was restarted with safety measures in place. Results:  Following the AJ intervention, the IG group reported increased greens and beans (p=.01), higher total protein (p=.008), and reduced added sugars (p=.04) consumption compared to the SG group. Within IG, significant improvements were observed for total vegetables (p=.03), greens and beans (p=.002), and refined grains (p=.03); total HEI Score approached significance (p=.07) . Conversely, in the SG group, significant increases in refined grains (p=.03) )and added sugar consumption (p=.04) was observed post-intervention. Conclusion: These differences suggest the efficacy of the guided intervention relative to the self-guided intervention.  Results are of particular interest given the timing during the Pandemic and reflect the concerted effort of participants to purchase and prepare healthy foods. AJ is an example of how culturally relevant interventions and tools can promote diet quality improvements. Future efforts will examine adherence to cancer survivors guidelines and consider ways to integrate this type of programming within existing community resources.  .

Citation Format: Sandra I. Contreras, Marina Feffer, AnaKaren Manriquez Prado, Alexis Visotcky, Sailaja Kamaraju, Staci Young, Patricia Sheean, Melinda Stolley. Examining the dietary patterns & quality of life among Latina breast and gynecologic cancer survivors in Avanzado Juntas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A020.