Exercise Improves Colon Cancer Survival, Major Study Shows

Involving 889 patients, this study showed that a structured three-year exercise regimen led to notable improvements in colon cancer outcomes. The program encouraged participants to engage in at least double the amount of exercise recommended for the general population, such as three to four 45-60 minute sessions of brisk walking per week. Participants were supported by weekly face-to-face coaching for the first six months, then monthly sessions.

The trial’s results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, revealed compelling benefits. After five years, 80 percent of patients in the exercise group remained cancer-free, compared to 74 percent in the control group, marking a 28 percent reduction in the risk of cancer recurrence or new cancer formation. Eight years post-treatment, the mortality rate was 10 percent for the exercise group versus 17 percent for the control group, indicating a 37 percent lower risk of death.

While the exact mechanisms behind the results remain unclear, researchers suggest that exercise may influence growth hormones, inflammation, and immune system function.

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