Physical Activity May Help Colon Cancer Survivors Achieve Similar Survival Rates to the General Population

Physical activity may significantly improve long-term survival rates for colon cancer survivors, according to a recent study published in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. Individuals with colon cancer face higher mortality rates than people in the general population who have similar characteristics like age and sex.

To examine whether exercise could reduce this disparity, researchers analyzed data from two posttreatment trials involving 2,875 patients with stage 3 colon cancer who reported their physical activity levels following surgery and chemotherapy. The study also considered information on a matched general population from the National Center for Health Statistics. Physical activity was quantified in terms of metabolic equivalent (MET) hours per week. According to health guidelines, individuals should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly, which translates to approximately 8 MET-hours/week.

In analyzing data from the first trial (CALGB 89803), researchers found that among patients alive three years after cancer treatment, those with less than 3.0 MET-hours/week had a subsequent overall survival rate that was 17.1% lower compared to the general population. However, patients who achieved at least 18.0 MET-hours/week showed only a 3.5% lower survival rate difference.

In the second trial (CALGB 80702), three-year overall survival rates were found to be approximately 10.8% and 4.4% lower for patients with less than and at least 18.0 MET-hours/week, respectively.

Combining data from both trials, researchers discovered that among the 1,908 patients who remained cancer-free after three years and were still alive, those engaging in less than 3.0 MET-hours of physical activity per week had a subsequent survival rate that was only 3.1% lower compared to the general population. Conversely, survivors achieving at least 18.0 MET-hours/week experienced overall survival rates that were even higher—2.9% better—than their cancer-free counterparts in the general population.

This research underscores how controllable factors such as physical activity levels can have a substantial impact on long-term prognosis for colon cancer survivors. It also offers valuable information to patients, medical professionals, and policymakers, highlighting how emphasizing healthy lifestyles can be an effective strategy for improving health outcomes.

“This new data provides important insights into the role of exercise in enhancing survival among colon cancer survivors,” says Justin C. Brown, PhD, lead author from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. “Understanding that physical activity can bring their long-term prognosis closer to those without cancer could be a powerful tool for promoting healthier behaviors.”