A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests structured exercise may significantly reduce the risk of colon cancer recurrence and improve survival rates for patients who have undergone surgery and chemotherapy. Led by Canadian researchers, the trial found that patients who followed an exercise program had a 28% lower recurrence risk and a 37% lower risk of death from any cause compared to those who received only general health advice.
Study Details: How Exercise Stacks Up Against Standard Care
The Colon Health and Lifelong Exercise Change (CHALLENGE) trial recruited 889 participants across multiple countries, including Canada, Australia, the U.S., U.K., and France. All had stage 3 or high-risk stage 2 colon cancer and had completed adjuvant chemotherapy. Researchers randomly assigned them to either a structured exercise group or a health-education group.
- Exercise Group: 445 patients worked with physical activity consultants for three years, gradually reducing check-ins from weekly to monthly. They were encouraged to engage in aerobic activities equivalent to 3–4 brisk walks (45–60 minutes each) weekly.
- Control Group: 444 patients received standard health materials on physical activity and nutrition.
Key Findings: Exercise’s Dual Benefit for Survival and Quality of Life
After a median follow-up of 7.9 years:
- Recurrence and Death: 93 exercise-group patients experienced recurrence, new cancers, or death, versus 131 in the control group. Deaths from any cause were 41 vs. 66.
- Disease-Free Survival: 80.3% of exercisers were disease-free at five years, compared to 73.9% in the control group.
- Physical Functioning: Exercise participants showed improved fitness without significant weight loss, contradicting the assumption that weight management drives the benefit.
Experts Weigh In: Exercise as a ‘Side-Effect-Free’ Therapy
David Sebag-Montefiore, a UK oncology professor, called the results “excellent news,” noting that structured moderate exercise offers benefits “without the downside of known treatment side effects.” Julie Gralow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology emphasized exercise’s advantage: “It’s better than a drug in terms of benefit without toxicity,” though she cautioned against replacing medication. Lead author Kerry Courneya added that exercise’s costs (CAD 3,000–5,000 per patient) pale in comparison to cancer drugs, which can exceed CAD 100,000.
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