• A recent study shows structured exercise significantly improves survival rates in colon cancer patients.
• Patients who exercised had a 37% lower risk of dying and a 28% lower risk of cancer recurrence.
• The findings indicate that exercise should be a standard part of cancer care.
• Participants engaged in activities like walking, with coaching support lasting up to three years.
• The research involved nearly 900 patients across six countries, showcasing international implications.

A groundbreaking study has illustrated that a structured exercise program can significantly enhance survival rates among colon cancer patients. Conducted as a randomized controlled trial involving nearly 900 patients across six countries, the study revealed that those who engaged in regular exercise lived longer without recurrence of cancer or occurrence of new cancers. Notably, participants in the exercise program experienced a 37% lower risk of dying and a 28% lower risk of facing recurrent or new cancer compared to the control group, which only received education on physical activity and nutrition, according to nytimes and indiatimes.

The results, published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, showed that *eighty percent of participants in the exercise group remained disease-free after five years*, in contrast to *seventy-four percent in the control group*. This compelling evidence marks the study as the first of its kind to confirm a causal relationship between exercise and improved cancer survival rates, according to bbc and cbsnews.

Participants were engaged in a variety of physical activities, with the most common being brisk walking for approximately *forty-five minutes several times per week*. They received support from “physical activity consultants” who provided motivation and accountability, essential for maintaining a consistent exercise regimen. The study highlighted that this approach fostered a sense of empowerment among patients, as described by participant Terri Swain-Collins, who indicated that regular check-ins helped her stay on track, according to nytimes, indiatimes, and cbsnews.

Health experts now advocate for integrating structured exercise programs into standard cancer treatment protocols. Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt, a prominent oncologist, emphasizes that these findings may lead to considerable shifts in treatment approaches not only for colon cancer but potentially for other cancers as well. The evidence suggests that exercise could be as crucial as some medications in enhancing patient outcomes, illustrating a paradigm shift in cancer care, according to bbc and cbsnews.