Walking reduces colon cancer relapses

NEW YORK (AP) — An international exercise program improved survival and reduced cancer recurrence in colon cancer patients, according to a clinical trial presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting.

“This is an extremely exciting study,” said Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who was not involved in the research. “It’s the first randomized controlled trial showing how exercise can help cancer survivors.”

The research was conducted in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Israel, and the United States, with a sample of 889 patients with treatable colon cancer who completed chemotherapy. Half of the group was given an educational brochure on exercise and nutrition; the other half participated in a structured program with coaches who guided them for three years. “This is the highest-quality evidence you can get,” said Dr. Julie Gralow, ASCO’s chief medical officer.

The results indicated that those who completed the supervised program had a 28% lower risk of cancer recurrence and a 37% lower risk of death from any cause. “When we saw the results, we were amazed,” said Dr. Christopher Booth, co-author of the study. The program included biweekly meetings with coaches for the first year and monthly meetings for the next two. “This was something I could do for myself to feel better,” said Terri Swain-Collins, a 62-year-old participant from Kingston, Ontario.

The researchers also collected blood samples to study possible protective mechanisms, such as insulin control or strengthening the immune system. "We can now definitively say that exercise causes improvements in survival," said Dr. Kerry Courneya of the University of Alberta.

According to Booth, structured exercise programs could be implemented at a reasonable cost. “It’s a remarkably affordable intervention that will make people feel better, have fewer cancer recurrences, and live longer,” he emphasized.

The authors published their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine and noted that the benefits of exercise rival those of some cancer drugs, recommending its inclusion as a standard of care in cancer centers and insurance plans.