Physical exercise of light to moderate intensity, significantly increases survival in Colorectal cancer patients; these findings reflect other studies in CANCERactive in recent years.
In a new study (1) involving 1,696 stage 3 colorectal cancer patients, who had all had surgery and chemotherapy, those who undertook larger volumes of recreational physical activity, longer durations of light- to moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, or any vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity were associated with the greatest improvements in disease-free survival.
The median follow up time was almost 6 years, during which time just 26.9% experienced recurrence. The research was carried out in the Pennington Biomedical Cancer Metabolism Program and Dr Justin Brown, lead author of the study, said in a statement. “This study provides oncologists and their patients with specific information on exactly what type of activity will be most helpful in their goal of remaining alive and cancer free.”
In 2011, Harvard School of Public Health showed exercise could increase prostate cancer survival times.
And in 2020, researchers from The Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York showed that women who reached minimal levels of exercise (2.5 hours a week) had a 55% lower risk of recurrence and a 68% lower risk of dying when compared to women who didn’t meet the minimum guidelines (2)
Chris Woollams, former Oxford University Biochemist added, “It is important to remember that you are not just oxygenating your tissues when you exercise but producing hormones called endorphins which have remarkable anti-stress and anti-inflammatory benefits in cancer.”
Go to: 10 benefits of exercise - a powerful drug
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Reference
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Physical Activity in Stage III Colon Cancer: CALGB/SWOG 80702 (Alliance); Justin C Brown et al; Journal of Clinical Oncology
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Even moderate exercise increases breast cancer survival