A recent clinical trial funded by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) has revealed that colon cancer patients are more likely to survive the disease when supported to engage in regular physical activity. The study highlights the powerful role of personalised exercise programmes in improving long-term outcomes.

Professor Charles Swanton, CRUK’s Chief Clinician, commented:

“For an intervention that isn’t a drug, exercise offers remarkable benefits for patients. For some people with colon cancer, physical activity can be a game-changer that shifts the course of their recovery.”

In the trial, participants were divided into two groups. One group received standard health education materials, including general advice on exercise and healthy eating. The other group received personalised support from a trainer to help them meet weekly exercise goals.

The results were striking:

• After five years, 80% of those in the structured exercise group remained cancer-free, compared to 74% in the standard care group.
• At eight years, survival rates were 90% for the structured group, versus 83% for those who only received educational materials.
• Overall, patients who followed a structured exercise programme were 37% less likely to die in the eight years following treatment.

These findings underscore the importance of integrating tailored physical activity into cancer care, not just as a complementary therapy, but as a potentially life-extending intervention.

You can read the full article here​.