Cancer

Study: Exercise Program Cuts Colon Cancer Death Risk by Over One-Third

Published JUN 2 2025

Story

Image credit: Gabin Vallet via Unsplash

The Facts

An international trial involving 889 colon cancer patients across six countries from 2009 to 2023 demonstrated that a structured exercise program significantly improved survival rates after cancer treatment.
The Guardian
BBC News
Patients who participated in the three-year structured exercise program, which included regular coaching sessions, showed a 28% lower risk of cancer recurrence and a 37% lower risk of death after eight years compared to those who only received health education materials.
The Telegraph
New England Journal of Medicine
The exercise program required participants to complete 45-60 minutes of moderate-intensity activity three to four times weekly, with activities ranging from brisk walking to swimming, under professional supervision for the first six months.
The Times (UK)
BBC News
After five years, 80% of people in the exercise group remained cancer-free compared to 74% in the control group, while eight-year survival rates were 90% in the exercise group versus 83% in the control group.
The Telegraph
New England Journal of Medicine
The structured program cost between $3,000 and $4,000 per patient over three years and included regular meetings with physical activity consultants, initially twice a month and then monthly.
STAT
The Guardian
Musculoskeletal adverse events occurred more frequently in the exercise group (18.5%) compared to the control group (11.5%), though only 10% of these events were directly related to the exercise intervention.
The Times (UK)
New England Journal of Medicine

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

This exercise intervention represents a groundbreaking advancement in cancer care, proving more effective than many approved drugs with fewer side effects. The program's success in preventing one death for every 14 participants demonstrates that structured physical activity should become a standard part of cancer treatment — potentially transforming clinical practice worldwide.

The Times (UK)

The Telegraph

Narrative B

While this study is good news, more research is needed into why colon cancer rates have skyrocketed in demographics that were previously not at risk for the disease, such as the young. The most pressing issue is understanding this enigma, which may be due to lifestyle and environmental factors. Doctors report athletes and fit individuals getting colon cancer at an alarming rate, meaning that much more research is needed.