In a breakthrough that could reshape cancer recovery worldwide, a major new study has revealed that structured exercise after treatment is more powerful than many drugs at preventing cancer from coming back—and even saving lives.
Presented at the world’s largest cancer conference in Chicago and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, this global trial followed 889 patients with colon cancer from six countries. Half joined a guided exercise program with a personal trainer; the other half received only lifestyle advice. The results? After eight years, those who exercised regularly had a 37% lower risk of dying and a 28% lower chance of developing new or returning cancers.
Dr. Julie Gralow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology said, “We should’ve titled the session Better Than a Drug. The benefits rival or exceed many medications, without the toxic side effects.”
Patients in the exercise group weren’t running marathons. Many simply walked, hiked, kayaked, or skied three to four times a week. The key? Consistency, coaching, and support over three years.
Lead researcher Dr. Christopher Booth called the results “a clear answer” for the many patients asking what else they can do beyond surgery and chemotherapy. Cancer Research UK’s Professor Charles Swanton agreed: “Exercise can be a gamechanger.”
Doctors are now urging a global shift in cancer recovery protocols to include structured movement, tailored to each patient’s ability. As Dr. Pamela Kunz of Yale put it, “Exercise is a no-brainer.”
Before you lace up your sneakers, talk to your doctor. But make no mistake—when it comes to post-cancer recovery, movement just might be the most powerful medicine we have.
