The intersection of oncology, precision medicine, and lifestyle is gaining increasing attention as a holistic approach to both preventing and treating chronic diseases. Dr. Cristina Sánchez, an oncologist specializing in lifestyle and precision medicine, emphasizes the critical role of integrating healthy habits into traditional medical care. Her recent book, “Repara. Reset. Revive,” serves as a guide to preventing chronic illness, and her work highlights a shift towards recognizing the body’s inherent capacity for healing when provided with the right conditions.
Traditionally, Dr. Sánchez notes, lifestyle interventions are often relegated to “advice at the end” of a medical consultation, rather than being considered integral to the treatment plan. She argues that factors like sleep quality, activity levels, diet, social connections, and stress management “should become part of the treatment, just like we look at an analysis.” This perspective aligns with the growing field of Lifestyle Medicine, which focuses on using therapeutic lifestyle interventions to address chronic conditions.
Dr. Sánchez’s approach uniquely combines three medical disciplines. Precision medicine, she explains, identifies individual risks and biological vulnerabilities, while oncology focuses on therapeutic interventions when necessary. However, she stresses that lifestyle medicine forms the foundation upon which these other disciplines operate. It’s the means of modulating inflammation, metabolism, body composition, rhythms, and resilience – all crucial elements in both preventing and treating disease.
“One part is the medicine, the other is the body,” Dr. Sánchez states. “If we do not treat both, we are doing the job half-heartedly.” This sentiment underscores the importance of addressing the root causes of illness, rather than solely focusing on symptom management. She believes that complementary therapies, alongside conventional medical treatments, are often necessary for achieving optimal outcomes.
The benefits of embracing a lifestyle medicine approach can be surprisingly rapid. Dr. Sánchez reports that many patients experience noticeable improvements within two to four weeks of implementing positive changes. These improvements include deeper, more stable sleep. reduced mental “acceleration” from decreased screen time and increased breathing exercises; improved digestion with a fiber-rich, ultra-processed food-limited diet; increased energy levels; and better mood regulation through increased physical activity and exposure to natural light.
These improvements, Dr. Sánchez emphasizes, aren’t the result of magic, but rather a natural biological response to positive stimuli. Lifestyle interventions work by providing the body with the signals it needs to restore balance and optimize function.
The growing recognition of lifestyle medicine’s importance is supported by broader research demonstrating the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in preventing and managing chronic diseases. Studies have shown that adopting healthy habits can significantly reduce the incidence and progression of conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. This approach focuses on modifying unhealthy behaviors and promoting healthy ones, addressing multiple risk factors simultaneously.
While precision medicine helps identify individual vulnerabilities, and oncology provides targeted treatments, lifestyle medicine empowers individuals to actively participate in their own health journey. By addressing the fundamental factors that influence well-being, it offers a proactive and holistic approach to healthcare that complements and enhances traditional medical interventions.
Dr. Sánchez’s work represents a growing movement within the medical community towards a more integrated and patient-centered approach to healthcare, one that recognizes the profound impact of lifestyle on overall health and well-being.
