Improved survival chances found in colon cancer patients linked to physical activity, as research uncovers.
Crankin' Up the Survivor Belt for Colon Cancer Patients!
In a groundbreaking international study unveiled at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), a three-year exercise program led to a dramatic boost in colon cancer survival rates and kept the disease at bay. Let's delve into the details!
The exciting study, funded in Canada, Australia, the UK, Israel, and the US, selected 889 colon cancer survivors who had completed initial chemotherapy, half of whom attended personalized bi-weekly exercise sessions in the first year, and monthly sessions for the next two years. The other half received just a health manual with exercise suggestions[1].
Rockin' the Results!
After eight years, the scores were clear: participants in the exercise group faced 28% fewer disease recurrences and a staggering 37% reduction in all-cause mortality compared to the health manual group[2]. Although there were more minor muscle injuries in the active bunch, the benefits outweighed the risks[1].
Research was broadcasted at the annual ASCO gathering in Chicago and published in the New England Journal of Medicine[1]. Specialists now believe this could revolutionize how clinicians treat colon cancer after chemotherapy[2].
Exercise: A Game-Changer
Previously, evidence supporting exercise's benefits was limited to comparisons between active and sedentary individuals, leaving lingering questions about cause and effect. But this randomized, controlled study leaves no doubts about the essential role exercise plays in fighting cancer[3].
Many participants, like motivated 62-year-old Terri Swain-Collins, took a brisk 45-minute walk several times a week, and the results spoke for themselves.
Without hesitation, specialists assert that oncology centers should include physical exercise programs in their post-treatment follow-ups. With informed knowledge that boosting activity has a proven impact on extending lives, they encourage colon cancer survivors to work up a sweat.
Buckle up and get moving, folks - your survival could hang on those sneakers!
[1] Associated Press, 2023[2] Kingston Health Sciences Centre, 2023[3] American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, 2023[4] New England Journal of Medicine, 2023[5] Enrichment data analysis, 2023
- The study reveals that a three-year exercise program focused on reducing medical-conditions like colon cancer could significantly improve survival rates and decrease all-cause mortality, as reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.
- Science has shown that incorporating fitness-and-exercise, such as regular walks, into post-treatment routines for colon cancer patients could potentially enhance health-and-wellness and help manage recurrences of the disease, as suggested by the findings from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.
- In the light of the new study, medical-conditions like colon cancer survivors may find that participating in a science-backed fitness-and-exercise program could significantly decrease their risk of disease recurrences and mortality, making it an essential component of their health-and-wellness regimens.