A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that a 3-year structured exercise program after chemotherapy for colon cancer improved disease-free survival compared to health-education.
What Was Studied?
Researchers from 55 centers worldwide followed nearly 900 people who had surgery and chemotherapy for colon cancer. Patients were randomly assigned to either:
- A structured exercise program (with support and guidance), or
- Standard health education (written materials about healthy living).
The study lasted 3 years, with follow-up for almost 8 years.
What Did They Find?
- Better Disease-Free Survival:
80.3% of those in the exercise group were cancer-free after 5 years, compared to 73.9% in the education-only group. - Longer Overall Survival:
After 8 years, 90.3% of the exercise group were still alive, versus 83.2% in the education group. - Reduced Risk:
Exercise lowered the risk of cancer coming back, new cancers, or death by about 28%. - More Muscle/Joint Aches:
Some people in the exercise group (18.5%) reported muscle or joint aches, compared to 11.5% in the education group.
What Does This Mean for Patients?
According to the results of this study, regular, structured exercise after completing chemotherapy for colon cancer can make a real difference. It’s not just about feeling better—it may help you live longer and reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.
Talk to your doctor about starting a safe, supervised exercise program that’s right for you. Even moderate activity, when done regularly, can have big benefits.
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.
