Latest news with #colonCancer
Washington Post
38 minutes ago
- Health
- Washington Post
Exercise boosts survival rates in colon cancer patients, study shows
A three-year exercise program improved survival in colon cancer patients and kept disease at bay, a first-of-its-kind international experiment showed. With the benefits rivaling some drugs, experts said cancer centers and insurance plans should consider making exercise coaching a new standard of care for colon cancer survivors. Until then, patients can increase their physical activity after treatment, knowing they are doing their part to prevent cancer from coming back.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Exercise boosts survival rates in colon cancer patients, study shows
A three-year exercise program improved survival in colon cancer patients and kept disease at bay, a first-of-its-kind international experiment showed. With the benefits rivaling some drugs, experts said cancer centers and insurance plans should consider making exercise coaching a new standard of care for colon cancer survivors. Until then, patients can increase their physical activity after treatment, knowing they are doing their part to prevent cancer from coming back. 'It's an extremely exciting study,' said Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who wasn't involved in the research. It's the first randomized controlled trial to show how exercise can help cancer survivors, Meyerhardt said. Prior evidence was based on comparing active people with sedentary people, a type of study that can't prove cause and effect. The new study — conducted in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Israel and the United States — compared people who were randomly selected for an exercise program with those who instead received an educational booklet. 'This is about as high a quality of evidence as you can get,' said Dr. Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 'I love this study because it's something I've been promoting but with less strong evidence for a long time.' The findings were featured Sunday at ASCO's annual meeting in Chicago and published by the New England Journal of Medicine. Academic research groups in Canada, Australia and the U.K. funded the work. Researchers followed 889 patients with treatable colon cancer who had completed chemotherapy. Half were given information promoting fitness and nutrition. The others worked with a coach, meeting every two weeks for a year, then monthly for the next two years. Coaches helped participants find ways to increase their physical activity. Many people, including Terri Swain-Collins, chose to walk for about 45 minutes several times a week. 'This is something I could do for myself to make me feel better,' said Swain-Collins, 62, of Kingston, Ontario. Regular contact with a friendly coach kept her motivated and accountable, she said. 'I wouldn't want to go there and say, 'I didn't do anything,' so I was always doing stuff and making sure I got it done.' After eight years, the people in the structured exercise program not only became more active than those in the control group but also had 28% fewer cancers and 37% fewer deaths from any cause. There were more muscle strains and other similar problems in the exercise group. 'When we saw the results, we were just astounded,' said study co-author Dr. Christopher Booth, a cancer doctor at Kingston Health Sciences Centre in Kingston, Ontario. Exercise programs can be offered for several thousand dollars per patient, Booth said, 'a remarkably affordable intervention that will make people feel better, have fewer cancer recurrences and help them live longer.' Researchers collected blood from participants and will look for clues tying exercise to cancer prevention, whether through insulin processing or building up the immune system or something else. Swain-Collins' coaching program ended, but she is still exercising. She listens to music while she walks in the countryside near her home. That kind of behavior change can be achieved when people believe in the benefits, when they find ways to make it fun and when there's a social component, said paper co-author Kerry Courneya, who studies exercise and cancer at the University of Alberta. The new evidence will give cancer patients a reason to stay motivated. 'Now we can say definitively exercise causes improvements in survival,' Courneya said. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Brisk walks could cut risk of death for colon cancer patients by more than a third, study finds
A structured exercise routine can reduce the risk of death for people with colon cancer by more than a third, a study has found. The results, unveiled at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference on Sunday, could transform how colon cancer is treated around the world, the researchers said. The scientists hope the findings will prompt healthcare providers to integrate exercise plans into routine cancer care. The CO21 CHALLENGE trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, followed 889 people with colon cancer across six countries, including the UK. It found that a structured exercise programme significantly reduced the likelihood of the disease returning and improved overall survival compared with standard advice. After five years, 80 per cent of patients who followed a tailored exercise regime were cancer-free, compared with 74 per cent of those who were offered just health education materials. This means the risk of dying, cancer coming back, or developing a new cancer was 28 per cent lower in the exercise group. After eight years, survival rates were 90 per cent in the exercise group compared to 83 per cent in the health education group, representing a 37 per cent lower risk of death. More than 31,000 people in the UK die from colon cancer every year, according to Cancer Research UK. The study was part-funded by Cancer Research UK's Stand Up To Cancer campaign and carried out in collaboration with the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG). The three-year programme saw patients supported by physical activity consultants, starting with weekly in-person sessions for the first six months and moving to monthly sessions either in person or online. Activities were tailored to the individual, from brisk walking to gym-based circuit training. Among the patients to benefit from the trial was Margaret Tubridy, 69, from North Belfast. Before her cancer diagnosis, she said she had never exercised. Now, five years on, she says she is lifting weights, pole walking and taking part in gym classes twice a week. "It's been almost five years since my cancer diagnosis and if I meet anyone, I tell them I am doing great,' she said. 'Taking part in the trial helped me so much – I am stronger, fitter, and my anxiety is better. I never thought at 69 years of age I would be able to do all of this – I am chuffed to bits.' Professor Vicky Coyle, UK lead researcher and clinical professor at Queen's University Belfast, said the study gives 'clear and encouraging' evidence that physical activity can reduce colon cancer mortality. 'We now need to work with policymakers and healthcare providers to embed exercise into treatment plans where appropriate,' she said. Cancer Research UK said the findings should act as a wake-up call for health services, adding it could 'transform clinical practice'. However, Caroline Geraghty, senior specialist information nurse at the charity, said this can only happen 'if health services have the necessary funding and staff to make it a reality for patients'. She added: "It's important to remember that every cancer journey is different – starting new activities after treatment can feel overwhelming, and it may not be the right option for everyone. Take things at your own pace and speak to your doctor to discuss what is safe for you.' The researchers said more work is needed to explore the biological mechanisms behind exercise's effect on cancer, but the evidence is already strong enough to prompt urgent action.
New York Times
2 hours ago
- Health
- New York Times
Exercise Extends Life for People With Cancer, Study Shows
A first-of-its kind study adds powerful new evidence to research showing that exercise improves cancer survival. The study, a randomized controlled trial of nearly 900 patients at 55 cancer centers in six countries, showed that people who participated in a structured exercise program lived longer without their cancer coming back and without the occurrence of new cancers. Participants in the exercise program had a 37 percent lower risk of dying and a 28 percent lower risk of recurrent or new cancer than those in the control group. Earlier research had suggested such a benefit, but the data were from observational studies that did not prove a causal link, experts said. 'We now have definitive evidence that exercise is not just an intervention for quality of life and fitness. This is an intervention that improves survival and should be standard of care,' said Dr. Christopher Booth, the senior author of the paper and a professor of oncology at Queen's University in Canada. The study, which was published Sunday in the New England Journal of Medicine, looked at patients with Stage III or high-risk Stage II colon cancer who received standard surgery and chemotherapy treatment. Researchers randomly assigned these patients to a control group, which received educational materials promoting physical activity and healthy nutrition, or to a treatment group, which also received support from a 'physical activity consultant' — a hybrid of personal trainer and life coach — over three years to increase their aerobic exercise and sustain it. Patients could choose a number of activities, such as biking, jogging, swimming or kayaking, but most opted for a brisk walk of 45 minutes four times a week, Dr. Booth said. Eighty percent of patients in the exercise group remained disease-free after five years, compared to 74 percent of patients in the control group. After eight years, the exercise program had prevented one death for every 14 people who participated in the exercise arm of the study. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Health
- Associated Press
Exercise boosts survival rates in colon cancer patients, study shows
A three-year exercise program improved survival in colon cancer patients and kept disease at bay, a first-of-its-kind international experiment showed. With the benefits rivaling some drugs, experts said cancer centers and insurance plans should consider making exercise coaching a new standard of care for colon cancer survivors. Until then, patients can increase their physical activity after treatment, knowing they are doing their part to prevent cancer from coming back. 'It's an extremely exciting study,' said Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who wasn't involved in the research. It's the first randomized controlled trial to show how exercise can help cancer survivors, Meyerhardt said. Prior evidence was based on comparing active people with sedentary people, a type of study that can't prove cause and effect. The new study — conducted in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Israel and the United States — compared people who were randomly selected for an exercise program with those who instead received an educational booklet. 'This is about as high a quality of evidence as you can get,' said Dr. Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 'I love this study because it's something I've been promoting but with less strong evidence for a long time.' The findings were featured Sunday at ASCO's annual meeting in Chicago and published by the New England Journal of Medicine. Academic research groups in Canada, Australia and the U.K. funded the work. Researchers followed 889 patients with treatable colon cancer who had completed chemotherapy. Half were given information promoting fitness and nutrition. The others worked with a coach, meeting every two weeks for a year, then monthly for the next two years. Coaches helped participants find ways to increase their physical activity. Many people, including Terri Swain-Collins, chose to walk for about 45 minutes several times a week. 'This is something I could do for myself to make me feel better,' said Swain-Collins, 62, of Kingston, Ontario. Regular contact with a friendly coach kept her motivated and accountable, she said. 'I wouldn't want to go there and say, 'I didn't do anything,' so I was always doing stuff and making sure I got it done.' After eight years, the people in the structured exercise program not only became more active than those in the control group but also had 28% fewer cancers and 37% fewer deaths from any cause. There were more muscle strains and other similar problems in the exercise group. 'When we saw the results, we were just astounded,' said study co-author Dr. Christopher Booth, a cancer doctor at Kingston Health Sciences Centre in Kingston, Ontario. Exercise programs can be offered for several thousand dollars per patient, Booth said, 'a remarkably affordable intervention that will make people feel better, have fewer cancer recurrences and help them live longer.' Researchers collected blood from participants and will look for clues tying exercise to cancer prevention, whether through insulin processing or building up the immune system or something else. Swain-Collins' coaching program ended, but she is still exercising. She listens to music while she walks in the countryside near her home. That kind of behavior change can be achieved when people believe in the benefits, when they find ways to make it fun and when there's a social component, said paper co-author Kerry Courneya, who studies exercise and cancer at the University of Alberta. The new evidence will give cancer patients a reason to stay motivated. 'Now we can say definitively exercise causes improvements in survival,' Courneya said. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
