Exercise Improves Survival in Colon Cancer Patients

Colon cancer is a significant health concern worldwide, placing a heavy burden on the lives of those diagnosed and their families. A recent phase 3 trial from 55 centers suggests that introducing targeted exercise after adjuvant chemotherapy may significantly improve outcomes:

• A 3-year structured exercise program increased disease-free survival rates (80.3% vs. 73.9%) for individuals with resected colon cancer.
  • Overall survival at 8 years was also higher in the exercise group (90.3% vs. 83.2%)
• These findings underscore the potential value of physical activity in enhancing long-term recovery and wellness.

Take-home message: Anyone recovering from colon cancer might consider asking a healthcare provider about a balanced, structured exercise routine to help boost health and wellbeing.

Reference:

Courneya KS, Vardy JL, O’Callaghan CJ, Gill S, Friedenreich CM, Wong RKS, Dhillon HM, Coyle V, Chua NS, Jonker DJ, Beale PJ, Haider K, Tang PA, Bonaventura T, Wong R, Lim HJ, Burge ME, Hubay S, Sanatani M, Campbell KL, Arthuso FZ, Turner J, Meyer RM, Brundage M, O’Brien P, Tu D, Booth CM; CHALLENGE Investigators. Structured Exercise after Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2025 Jun 1. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2502760. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40450658.

Link to full text article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40450658/