A three-year international study has shown that exercise can significantly improve survival rates in colon cancer patients and reduce the risk of recurrence, findings that experts say could reshape cancer care.
The study, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago and published by the New England Journal of Medicine, tracked 889 patients with treatable colon cancer who had completed chemotherapy. Half of the patients received fitness and nutrition information, while the other half participated in a structured exercise program that included regular coaching sessions over three years.
The results were striking. Patients in the exercise program were 28% less likely to have their cancer return and 37% less likely to die from any cause compared to those in the control group. While the exercise group experienced more muscle strains and similar issues, researchers noted that the benefits of exercise far outweighed the minor setbacks.
“This is about as high a quality of evidence as you can get,” said Dr. Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who was not involved in the study, called it “an extremely exciting study,” adding that until now, no randomized controlled trial had definitively shown that exercise can reduce cancer recurrence and improve survival.
The research was conducted in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Israel and the United States, with funding from academic research groups in Canada, Australia and the U.K. Dr. Christopher Booth, a cancer specialist at Kingston Health Sciences Centre in Ontario and co-author of the study, said the findings suggest that exercise programs, which can be offered for a few thousand dollars per patient, should be considered a standard of care.
“Exercise causes improvements in survival,” said Kerry Courneya, another co-author from the University of Alberta. “This gives cancer patients a reason to stay motivated.”
For patients like Terri Swain-Collins of Kingston, Ontario, the exercise program has been life-changing. “This is something I could do for myself to make me feel better,” said Swain-Collins, 62, who still goes on regular walks to keep active.
Researchers are now analyzing blood samples from study participants to understand how exercise fights cancer, whether through insulin processing, immune system changes, or other pathways.
Experts believe the new evidence will encourage more cancer patients to incorporate exercise into their lives, even after treatment ends, as a way to take an active role in their recovery and long-term health.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
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- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
