Introduction to Exercise and Colon Cancer

A three-year exercise program improved survival in colon cancer patients and kept disease at bay, according to a first-of-its-kind international experiment that was presented at a major cancer research conference in Chicago.

The Benefits of Exercise for Colon Cancer Patients

With the benefits rivaling some drugs, experts said cancer centers and insurance plans should consider making exercise coaching a new standard of care for colon cancer survivors. Until then, patients can increase their physical activity after treatment, knowing they are doing their part to prevent cancer from coming back.

Expert Insights on the Study

“It’s an extremely exciting study,” said Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who wasn’t involved in the research. It’s the first randomized controlled trial to show a reduction in cancer recurrences and improved survival linked to exercise, Meyerhardt said.

Methodology of the Study

Prior evidence was based on comparing active people with sedentary people, a type of study that can’t prove cause and effect. The new study — conducted in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Israel and the United States — compared people who were randomly selected for an exercise program with those who instead received an educational booklet.

Quality of Evidence

“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. “I love this study because it’s something I’ve been promoting but with less strong evidence for a long time.”

Funding and Publication

The findings were featured Sunday at ASCO’s annual meeting in Chicago and published by the New England Journal of Medicine. Academic research groups in Canada, Australia and the U.K. funded the work.

The Exercise Program and Its Impact

Researchers followed 889 patients with treatable colon cancer who had completed chemotherapy. Half were given information promoting fitness and nutrition. The others worked with a coach, meeting every two weeks for a year, then monthly for the next two years.

Participant Experiences

Coaches helped participants find ways to increase their physical activity. Many people, including Terri Swain-Collins, chose to walk for about 45 minutes several times a week.
“This is something I could do for myself to make me feel better,” said Swain-Collins, 62, of Kingston, Ontario. Regular contact with a friendly coach kept her motivated and accountable, she said. “I wouldn’t want to go there and say, ‘I didn’t do anything,’ so I was always doing stuff and making sure I got it done.”

Results of the Study

After eight years, the people in the structured exercise program not only became more active than those in the control group but also had 28% fewer cancers and 37% fewer deaths from any cause. There were more muscle strains and other similar problems in the exercise group.

Reaction to the Results

“When we saw the results, we were just astounded,” said study co-author Dr. Christopher Booth, a cancer doctor at Kingston Health Sciences Centre in Kingston, Ontario.

Cost-Effectiveness of Exercise Programs

Exercise programs can be offered for several thousand dollars per patient, Booth said, “a remarkably affordable intervention that will make people feel better, have fewer cancer recurrences and help them live longer.”

Future Research Directions

Researchers collected blood from participants and will look for clues tying exercise to cancer prevention, whether through insulin processing or building up the immune system or something else.

Sustaining Behavior Change

Swain-Collins’ coaching program ended, but she is still exercising. She listens to music while she walks in the countryside near her home.

Factors Contributing to Behavior Change

That kind of behavior change can be achieved when people believe in the benefits, when they find ways to make it fun and when there’s a social component, said Kerry Courneya, the co-author of the research, who studies exercise and cancer at the University of Alberta.

Impact on Cancer Patients

The new evidence will give cancer patients a reason to stay motivated, according to Courneya.

Definitive Evidence

“Now, we can say definitively exercise causes improvements in survival,” Courneya said.

Conclusion

The study provides compelling evidence for the role of exercise in improving survival rates and preventing cancer recurrence in colon cancer patients. This breakthrough research has the potential to change the standard of care for colon cancer survivors, incorporating exercise coaching as a crucial component of treatment and recovery.

FAQs

• Q: What was the duration of the exercise program in the study?
  A: The exercise program lasted for three years.
• Q: How did the exercise program impact the survival rates of colon cancer patients?
  A: The exercise program resulted in 37% fewer deaths from any cause among the participants.
• Q: What was the control group given in the study?
  A: The control group received an educational booklet promoting fitness and nutrition.
• Q: How often did the participants in the exercise group meet with their coaches?
  A: The participants met with their coaches every two weeks for the first year and then monthly for the next two years.
• Q: What percentage of cancers was reduced in the exercise group compared to the control group?
  A: The exercise group had 28% fewer cancers than the control group.