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A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine claims to be the first in the world to use structured exercise to increase cancer survival. The trial results, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual conference, have shown the potential to revolutionalise clinical practice in terms of cancer treatment. The researchers suggested that when inculcated in cancer care for patients with colon cancer, a structured exercise program reduced the risk of cancer recurrence and of new primary cancers developing.
“Our findings show that exercise is no longer just a quality-of-life intervention for cancer patients that can be offered when and where possible,” says study co-chair Dr Kerry Courneya, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Alberta and Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Cancer.
“It is a treatment for colon cancer that must be made available to all patients,” Kerry adds.
Also Read: Early Screening For Colorectal Cancer: What It Involves And Its Importance For Young People
According to WHO, Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In 2020, more than 1.9 million new cases of colorectal cancer and more than 930 000 deaths due to colorectal cancer were estimated to have occurred worldwide. Large geographical variations in incidence and mortality rates were observed. The incidence rates were highest in Europe and Australia and New Zealand, and the mortality rates were highest in Eastern Europe. By 2040 the burden of colorectal cancer will increase to 3.2 million new cases per year (an increase of 63%) and 1.6 million deaths per year (an increase of 73%).
-1749818778976.jpg "Exercise may be able to treat cancer")
The Study
The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine is based on a 17 year long International trial involving 889 people, all of whom were either diagnosed with or treated for colon cancer in the past. After the patients’ surgeries and chemotherapy, they were divided into two groups. One group was given a three year structured exercise program and the other group was given the conventional health materials that are the norm for cancer patients. Each participant in the exercise program was asked to choose their own ‘level of intensity’ of the exercises ranging from merely walking to pickleball – the goal was to add two and a half hours of exercise to their schedule, the nature of which was to be decided by the participants.
The Results
Five Years Post Cancer Treatment
80% of people in the Exercise Group remained cancer-free
compared with 74% in the Non- Exercise group
Suggesting a very promising 28% reduction in the risk of the cancer recurring, or a new one forming
Eight Years Post Cancer Treatment:
10% of people on the Exercise programme died
compared with 17% in the Non Exercise group given only health advice
A 37% deficit of death risk between the groups.
The Future?
“This is the first clinical trial in the world designed to answer whether exercise can improve cancer survival, and the results are clear,” says Dr Booth from the research team.
“The next step is to put this into practice. That means health systems will need to invest in behaviour support programs as part of standard care,” he adds.
The researchers are currently analysing health-economic dynamics if the trial was to be made mainstream. They anticipate this method would be considerably cost friendly compared to the other cancer treatments, making it viable even for countries that lack resources for advanced treatments.