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lite.cnn.com - on gopher - inofficial
ARTICLE VIEW:
The link between cancer and exercise that patients should know
By Katia Hetter, CNN
Updated:
12:00 PM EDT, Thu July 3, 2025
Source: CNN
We all know that regular exercise has many benefits, including reducing
the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Exercise also improves outcomes in patients with cancer, according to a
new study published in the . Patients with cancer who participated in a
structured exercise program in a randomized-controlled trial lived
longer without cancer recurrence and had a lower risk of dying within
the trial period compared with people in the control group.
I was curious why and how exercise reduces cancer risk, and what
everyone should know about incorporating exercise programs in their
lives. To find out, I spoke with CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen. Wen
is an emergency physician and adjunct associate professor at George
Washington University. She previously served as Baltimore’s health
commissioner.
CNN: Why are the results of this study so important?
Dr. Leana Wen: Previous research suggested that exercise could be
beneficial for cancer survivors, but this is the first randomized trial
that demonstrates exercise after cancer treatment can reduce recurrence
and improve survival.
Researchers recruited nearly 900 patients from 55 cancer centers across
six countries who had been treated for either stage III or high-risk
stage II colon cancer. Even after cancer treatments such as surgery
followed by chemotherapy, colon cancer comes back in an of patients,
according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Many patients
with recurrence of their colon cancer end up dying from their disease.
The patients in the new study were randomized to two groups. The
control group received standard health education materials promoting
healthy eating and physical activity. This is the current
standard-of-care that is provided to patients in remission from their
cancer.
The other group participated in a structured exercise program that
involved working with a health coach for physical activity guidance and
supervised exercise sessions. During the initial six months, patients
had twice-a-month coaching sessions. After that period, they met with
coaches once a month, with extra sessions available if needed.
Participants randomized to the structured exercise group had
significantly higher improvements in physical function as measured by
distance they could walk in six minutes and predicted (your oxygen
uptake), both indicators of cardiovascular fitness.
The two groups were followed for an average of about eight years.
During this period, 131 patients in the control group had recurrence of
their cancer, compared with 93 in the structured exercise group. In the
control group, 66 people died, compared with 41 in the structured
exercise group.
People in the structured exercise group had a 28% lower risk of
developing recurrent or new cancers compared with those who followed
standard-of-care protocols. Members of the exercise group also had a
37% lower risk of death in the trial period.
This study is important because its rigorous methodology confirms what
previous research had suggested: Exercise extends disease-free survival
for patients with cancer and should be incorporated as part of holistic
treatment for patients to reduce their risk of recurrent and new
cancers.
CNN: How might results of the study change treatment for patients with
cancer?
Wen: Imagine if there were a clinical trial for a new drug that found
it lowered the risk of developing recurrent or new cancers by 28% and
lowered the risk of death in the trial period by 37%. Patients and
doctors would hail this as a tremendous development and would be eager
to try this new therapeutic.
That’s the magnitude of the findings in this study. I believe they
have the potential to substantially change cancer treatment protocols.
Currently, after patients receive treatments such as surgery,
chemotherapy and radiation, they are given advice to exercise, but many
probably do not engage the services of a health coach or trainer. Their
oncologists and primary care doctors may not be asking about their
physical activity regimen during follow-up care.
I hope this will change, in view of these results. Patients can be
counseled to have an “exercise prescription,” and health care
providers can follow up to track their exercise activity. Perhaps
insurance companies could even consider reimbursement for a health
coach for patients with cancer; this could be seen as an investment to
reduce the need for costlier chemotherapy and other treatments down the
line.
CNN: Why and how does exercise reduce cancer risk?
Wen: Population studies have that regular physical activity is
associated with lower risks of developing certain cancers. There are as
to why this is the case. One is that physical activity helps people
stay at a healthy weight, which is notable because obesity is a risk
factor for developing some cancers. In addition, exercise is thought to
help regulate some hormones that are implicated in cancer development
and to reduce inflammatory response that could also be involved in
cancer.
CNN: How much exercise do people need?
Wen: The that adults participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate to
high-intensity exercise per week. For someone who is exercising five
times a week, that’s about 30 minutes at a time of exercises such as
a brisk walk or jog, riding a bike or swimming.
The benefits of these exercise minutes are cumulative, meaning that
individuals don’t need to do them all at once to have an effect.
People who are unable to commit a period of time to exercise could
consider how they could incorporate physical activity into their daily
routines. Could they take the stairs instead of the elevator at work?
If they do this five times a day, that could be as many as 10 minutes
of exercise. Could they take a 10-minute phone meeting while walking in
their neighborhood instead of sitting at a desk? Could they park a bit
farther away to get in a few more minutes of physical activity? Small
changes add up.
CNN: What other advice do you have for people who want to begin
exercise programs?
Wen: Many studies show that while it’s ideal to get the recommended
150 minutes a week of exercise, there is a from even a small amount of
physical activity. The best advice I can offer is to not let the
perfect be the enemy of the good — start with what you can.
For instance, consider the idea of “exercise snacks,” or bursts of
activity that could be as short in duration as 15 or 30 seconds. These
are as simple as doing a few squats or performing household chores.
Getting up from your chair and just moving around helps, which is
especially important for desk-bound workers who to counter the negative
health impacts of sitting.
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