An international study across five countries has discovered that a three-year exercise regimen significantly enhanced survival rates and deterred recurrences among colon cancer patients. This groundbreaking research highlights the potential of exercise to match some medications in effectiveness, prompting experts to advocate for exercise guidance as a new standard care practice for colon cancer survivors. Until these recommendations are universally embraced, patients are advised to integrate more physical activity into their lifestyles post-treatment to help minimize the risk of cancer returning.
Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, although not part of the study, described the findings as incredibly exciting. He noted that this is the first randomized controlled trial that directly correlates exercise with reduced cancer recurrence and enhanced survival. Prior research only compared active versus inactive individuals without establishing a definitive cause-and-effect relationship. The latest study, conducted in Canada, Australia, the UK, Israel, and the US, randomly assigned some participants to an exercise program while others received only educational materials.
Dr. Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, lauded the study for its high-quality evidence, affirming her long-held belief in exercise as crucial, despite previously weaker evidence. The results were prominently displayed at ASCO’s annual meeting in Chicago and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Contributions from academic organizations in Canada, Australia, and the UK helped fund the research.
The study tracked 889 colon cancer patients who had finished chemotherapy. Half were provided with diet and fitness information, while the rest were engaged with a coach over a period of three years, starting with bi-weekly meetings for the first year, moving to monthly gatherings thereafter. Coaches played a key role in helping participants increase their activity levels, with many, like 62-year-old Terri Swain-Collins from Kingston, Ontario, opting to walk multiple times a week.
Swain-Collins credited her commitment to the program to the encouragement and accountability fostered by regular coach interactions. “I wouldn’t want to participate and admit to doing nothing,” she remarked, emphasizing the motivational power of the coaching relationship. At the study’s eight-year milestone, those in the exercise program demonstrated a 28% reduction in cancer occurrences and 37% decrease in mortality from any cause, though there was an increase in minor physical complaints like muscle strains.
Dr. Christopher Booth, a study co-author from Kingston Health Sciences Centre, expressed astonishment at the outcomes, noting the potential for these exercise regimens to be offered at a few thousand dollars per patient, a cost-effective means to not only feel better but also reduce cancer recurrence and extend life expectancy.
As the study progresses, researchers plan to analyze blood samples for insights into how exercise may contribute to cancer prevention—be it through insulin regulation, immune system enhancement, or other mechanisms.
Despite the conclusion of her formal coaching program, Swain-Collins remains active, enjoying music as she continues her walks in the scenic countryside. This lasting behavior change underscores the belief in the benefits of exercise, aided by an element of enjoyment and social interaction, states study co-author Kerry Courneya from the University of Alberta. The compelling evidence now arms cancer patients with a strong motivational reason: exercise definitively improves survival prospects.