DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial cancer or primary peritoneal carcinoma, including any of the following subtypes:

  • Serous adenocarcinoma
  • Endometrioid adenocarcinoma
  • Mucinous adenocarcinoma
  • Undifferentiated carcinoma
  • Clear cell adenocarcinoma
  • Mixed epithelial carcinoma
  • Transitional cell carcinoma
  • Malignant Brenner's tumor
  • Adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified
• Stage III or IV disease
• No prior diagnosis of or treatment for stage I or II ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cancer

• Patients must have completed all primary chemotherapy and consolidation therapy (if administered) more than 12 weeks ago but less than 24 months ago and are in complete remission

  • Consolidation therapy is defined as any chemotherapy or biological therapy used for a patient who has completed at least four courses of primary chemotherapy and had documented complete remission prior to initiation of such chemotherapy or biological therapy
  • A patient may have received prior consolidation therapy for up to 12 months

• No clinical evidence of persistent or recurrent disease based on CA 125 level and CT scan

  • All patients must have had an abnormally elevated serum CA 125 level prior to surgery or chemotherapy that has normalized to < 35 units/mL prior to study entry

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• GOG performance status 0-2
• ANC ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• Willing to provide names and appropriate telephone contact information and to be contacted periodically via telephone by Arizona Diet, Behavior and Quality of Life Shared Service staff for completion of individualized lifestyle intervention counseling
• Life expectancy ≥ 1 year
• Body Mass Index ≥ 20 kg/m^2
• No history of other invasive malignancies within the past 5 years, except for nonmelanoma skin cancer
• More than 24 months since prior marathon, triathlon, or other endurance-related physical activity

• No other chronic disease that would preclude randomization into a lifestyle intervention trial including, but are not limited to, any of the following:

  • Recent myocardial infarction or unstable angina (within the past 6 months)
  • Chronic hepatitis
  • Rheumatoid disease
  • Renal or hepatic disease or dysfunction
  • Diabetics receiving insulin
• No vegans
• No ongoing medically prescribed diet or physical activity regimen that has lasted for 6 months or longer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics