According to the American Cancer Society, there will be an estimated 154,270 new cases of colon cancer diagnosed in the United States in 2025. Unfortunately, an estimated 52,900 deaths this year will be due to colon cancer.
A team of cancer researchers affiliated with various health and academic institutions in the United States recently conducted a study focusing on colon cancer survivors and regular exercise. The study’s findings were published in the academic journal Cancer.
“Data were analyzed from two National Cancer Institute–sponsored postoperative treatment trials in stage III colon cancer, Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 89803 and 80702, with 2876 patients who self-reported physical activity. Physical activity was converted to metabolic equivalents (MET-hours/week). The MGP was derived from the National Center for Health Statistics and matched on age, sex, and year.” the researchers stated about their methodology.
“Physical activity is associated with an attenuation of the survival disparity between patients with stage III colon cancer participating in clinical trials and matched general population. Colon cancer survivors who are physically active may achieve survival that approximates the matched general population.” the researchers concluded.
“I think the important message is, some level of activity is better than staying inactive,” says Dr. Jeff Meyerhardt, co-director of the Colon and Rectal Cancer Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the study’s senior author, according to NPR’s coverage of the study.
“Those patients not only had a better overall survival if they were more physically active, they actually looked like they had a slightly better overall survival compared to the general population,” Meyerhardt also stated.
I have lost friends and family to cancer, including colon cancer. Every day that cancer patients can add to their lives is a gift, both to them and to their loved ones. Always be sensitive to what cancer patients are going through and approach the topic of exercise with them cautiously. Show empathy, always.
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