Exercise Cuts Colon Cancer Recurrence & Death 28% | Trial Results
Exercise dramatically reduces colon cancer recurrence and death rates, according to groundbreaking research. This study reveals that physical activity demonstrates a strong effect, possibly mirroring chemotherapy in its ability to prevent cancer from returning. Participants in the exercise group, averaging over 20 MET hours per week, showed important improvements compared to a control group.the findings underscore exercise’s potential to prevent local and distant colon cancer recurrence, and the possibility of preventing new cancers, including breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers. This exciting breakthrough offers hope for cancer patients, offering benefits without the side effects of conventional treatments. Discover what’s next with News Directory 3 as further research is planned to refine exercise recommendations for cancer patients.
Study: Exercise Benefits Colon Cancer Patients, Reduces Recurrence Risk
Updated June 2, 2025
A new study indicates that exercise may considerably reduce the risk of colon cancer recurrence and the development of new cancers. The research suggests that physical activity could be as effective as chemotherapy in preventing cancer from returning.
The study followed an exercise group and a health education control group over three years. For the first six months, the exercise group participated in supervised exercise. Results showed the exercise group averaged over 20 MET hours per week by the study’s end, compared to the education group’s 15 MET hours. The exercise group also demonstrated better cardiorespiratory fitness and physical functioning.
Researchers noted that even the health education group saw an increase in their exercise levels, starting from an average of 10 MET hours per week. This suggests that exercise could have an even more meaningful impact on cancer outcomes compared to a fully sedentary lifestyle. While the exact mechanisms are still under examination, scientists hypothesize that exercise may improve immune surveillance, reduce inflammation, and enhance insulin sensitivity, among other benefits.
“This indicates that exercise has a similarly strong effect as previously shown for chemotherapy, which is really quiet extraordinary,” said Marco Gerlinger, a gastrointestinal cancer expert at Queen Mary University of London.
David Sebag-Montefiore, a clinical oncologist at the University of Leeds, hailed the findings as an “exciting breakthrough” that offers benefits without the side effects of other treatments.
What’s next
Further research is planned to explore the specific mechanisms by which exercise impacts cancer outcomes and to refine exercise recommendations for cancer patients.