A groundbreaking study has found that an affordable three-year exercise program significantly improves survival rates and reduces cancer recurrences among colon cancer patients. The international experiment, conducted across Canada, Australia, the UK, Israel, and the US, showed that participants in the structured program had 28% fewer cancers and 37% fewer deaths from any cause compared to those who received an educational booklet.
The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved 889 patients with treatable colon cancer who underwent chemotherapy. Half were given information promoting fitness and nutrition, while the others worked with a coach, meeting every two weeks for a year and then monthly for the next two years.
Researchers found that this type of exercise program can be an effective intervention that rivals some cancer treatments. “This is about as high a quality of evidence as you can get,” said Dr. Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The benefits of exercise on cancer survival are thought to be due to its effects on insulin processing and immune system function.
The study’s findings have significant implications for cancer treatment and prevention. Experts recommend making exercise programs a new standard of care for colon cancer survivors. “When we saw the results, we were just astounded,” said Dr. Christopher Booth, co-author of the study.
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/06/02/health/affordable-habit-increases-colon-cancer-survival-rates-better-than-some-drugs