Physical activity decreases the likelihood of cancer reoccurrence more effectively compared to drug therapies.
New and Improved: Exercise Emerges as Potent Cancer Fighter, Outshining Medication
Embrace the power of movement – a fresh long-term study reveals that exercise may outdo medication in reducing cancer recurrence and minimizing mortality risks.
Scorching findings from a groundbreaking study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco) annual congress in Chicago provide evidence that exercise significantly lowers the risk of cancer recurrence and overall death in patients with advanced colon cancer. The study, led by Christopher Booth of Queen's University in Kingston (Canada), is published in the prestigious "New England Journal of Medicine."
Inside Scoop: Exercise and Colon Cancer Recurrence: A Closer Look
Dubbed the CO21-Challenge study, the research investigated the role of exercise in reducing cancer recurrence risk among 889 colon cancer patients that had undergone chemotherapy and surgery. For eight years, half of the participants were enrolled in a structured exercise program while the other half received basic health counseling on exercise and diet.
Equipped with a personal trainer's guidance, the exercise group aimed for an equivalent of three to four 45-60 minute walks per week, tailoring their exercise preferences.
Earth-Shattering Results: It's Exercise, Not Pills
Boasting impressive results after eight years, the active group experienced a staggering 37% lower mortality rate, and a 28% lower risk of cancer recurrence compared to the patients in the counseling-only group.
Julie Gralow, Asco's chief medical officer, who was not involved in the study, commented on the remarkable findings for the British "Guardian:" "Exercise has a benefit as great as that of many medications, with fewer side effects and at a lower cost."
Extra Bonus: Breast and Prostate Cancer on the Decline
Though the study solely focused on colon cancer patients, Booth highlights the potential applicability to other types of cancer based on the preliminary data that indicate fewer cases of breast and prostate cancer in the exercise group. However, Booth emphasizes the urgency for further studies to confirm this across different types of malignancies.
A Shift in Paradigm: Exercise for the Win in Cancer Aftercare
With the life-changing impact of exercise in cancer management, Booth and his team advocate for a transformation in cancer follow-up care. They encourage healthcare professionals worldwide to discuss exercise programs with their patients post-treatment. They add that given the comparatively lower cost per patient, implementing supported exercise programs is a realistic and valuable step in improving cancer outcomes.
- The study, published in the "New England Journal of Medicine," suggests that a community policy promoting exercise could have a significant impact on cancer reduction and mortality rates, exceeding that of employment policy or other health and wellness initiatives.
- In light of this breakthrough research, science continues to reinforce the importance of fitness, therapies, and treatments in managing medical conditions, such as cancer, thereby presenting a shift in the medical field's approach to aftercare and recovery.
- As the CO21-Challenge study reveals, health-and-wellness strategies like structured exercise programs could potentially contribute to reduced incidences of various types of cancer, including breast and prostate, aside from colon cancer, reaffirming the need for embracing exercise as a fundamental aspect of employment policy and community policy.
