Regular exercise holds significant importance in helping to prevent the reoccurrence of colon cancer, comparable to the role of medications.
In the realm of cancer, colorectal cancer ranks third globally, accounting for an alarming 10% of all cancer cases. Recently, a groundbreaking study led by Canadian scientists has made waves in the medical community.
This study is a game-changer for colon cancer survivors, suggesting that a structured exercise program may be more effective than drug treatments in preventing cancer recurrence. Astonishingly, participants following a supervised exercise regimen had a 28% lower risk of cancer recurrence and a 37% lower risk of death from any cause compared to those who only received health advice.
Published in the esteemed The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), this research offers promising insights into cancer prevention and treatment. Experts in the field have hailed this as a potential game-changer, with David Sebag-Montefiore, a leading oncologist from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, commenting that the benefits of this exercise program could be "better than a drug" at preventing colon cancer recurrence.
This study, part of the Colon Health and Lifelong Exercise Change (CHALLENGE) trial, recruited 889 participants, aged between 19 and 84 years, who had undergone surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy for stage 3 or high-risk stage 2 colon cancer. The participants were either assigned to a structured exercise group or a health-education group.
Over a median follow-up of 7.9 years, the structured exercise group demonstrated significant improvements in disease-free survival. At five years, 80.3% of patients in the exercise group were disease-free compared to 73.9% in the health-education group. Intriguingly, patients in the exercise group did not show significant weight loss, but they did experience improved physical functioning.
The structured exercise program, which aimed for the equivalent of 3-4 brisk 45-60 minute walks a week, was found to be more cost-effective compared to many cancer drugs, making it an appealing alternative for many patients and healthcare providers.
These findings suggest that exercise should be integrated into treatment plans for colon cancer survivors where appropriate. However, challenges remain in implementing these programs widely due to the need for personnel and support to help patients incorporate exercise into their lives effectively. As Julius Gralow, Chief Medical Officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, emphasizes, clinicians must prioritize recommending exercise to their patients. With the correct support and encouragement, exercise could revolutionize cancer survival rates and provide a vital counterweight to traditional drug treatments.
- This new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) reveals that structured exercise programs could be more effective than drug treatments in preventing colorectal cancer recurrence.
- The study, part of the Colon Health and Lifelong Exercise Change (CHALLENGE) trial, indicates that following a supervised exercise regimen could lower a colorectal cancer survivor's risk of cancer recurrence by 28% and the risk of death from any cause by 37%.
- Experts, such as David Sebag-Montefiore, a leading oncologist from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, have called this exercise program a potential game-changer, claiming its benefits might even surpass those of drugs in preventing colorectal cancer recurrence.
- Intriguingly, patients who participated in the structured exercise program did not experience significant weight loss but reported improved physical functioning.
- Given its cost-effectiveness compared to many cancer drugs, the structured exercise program could be an appealing alternative for both patients and healthcare providers in dealing with colorectal cancer.
- To maximize the benefits of exercise in managing colorectal cancer, clinicians need to prioritize recommending exercise to their patients and address the challenges of implementing exercise programs widely.
