A new study involving 889 cancer patients reveals that engaging in moderate-intensity physical activity for three years significantly improves outcomes after oncological treatment.
Exercising regularly in the three years following treatment for one of the most common types of cancer could drastically increase survival rates, according to a recent international study.
During the research, a total of 889 patients with colon cancer who had already undergone surgery and chemotherapy were divided into two groups.
The first group enrolled in a structured, group-based exercise program for three years. The second group, meanwhile, received only educational health materials.
Guided by coaches, the exercise group was free to choose their own type of moderate-intensity activity (such as walking or playing pickleball). The main goal was for each patient to accumulate two and a half hours of physical activity per week.
Compelling Long-Term Results
After an eight-year follow-up, participants in the exercise group showed a 28% lower likelihood of colon cancer recurrence or developing new tumors. Additionally, they recorded a 37% higher overall survival rate.
“Our findings demonstrate that exercise is no longer just an intervention to improve patients’ quality of life, offered only when possible,” stated Dr. Kerry Courneya, co-chair of the study, kinesiology professor at the University of Alberta, and Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Cancer. “It is a real treatment for colon cancer that should be accessible to all patients.”
The Impact of Having a Guided Routine
Terri Swain-Collins, diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2021, was one of the patients who participated in the clinical trial as part of the exercise group. She worked closely with a physical therapist to create a regimen tailored to her needs.
“One of the biggest benefits was having a semi-structured routine that fit my lifestyle, as well as having someone to be accountable to,” explained Swain-Collins.
“Simply being told by a doctor that you should exercise wouldn’t have been enough to get me where I am today; having someone by my side guiding me and checking my progress made it possible.” Three years later, Terri continues to walk regularly and is cancer-free.
A Shift in Healthcare Systems
Researchers emphasized that this is the first study to directly examine the impact of a structured exercise plan on cancer survival.
“The next step is to bring this into clinical practice,” underscored Dr. Chris Booth, medical oncologist at Kingston Health Sciences Centre and professor at Queen’s University.
“This means healthcare systems will need to invest in behavioral support programs as part of standard care.” Booth added that implementing exercise as a tool against cancer could be “remarkably cost-effective compared to many new oncology drugs.”
As an additional note, the research found that patients who exercised were slightly more likely to develop muscle strains or minor injuries (18.5%) compared to those who did not exercise (11.5%).
The findings of this study, funded by the Canadian Cancer Society, were published in the prestigious journal The New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago.
