Brisk walks could cut colon cancer deaths, study finds

A structured exercise routine can reduce the risk of death for people with colon cancer by more than a third, a study has found.

- JABED AHMED

The results, unveiled at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference yesterday, could transform how colon cancer is treated around the world, the researchers said. The scientists hope the findings will prompt healthcare providers to integrate exercise plans into routine cancer care.

The CO21 CHALLENGE trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, followed 889 people with colon cancer across six countries, including the UK. It found that a structured exercise programme significantly reduced the likelihood of the disease returning and improved overall survival compared with standard advice.

After five years, 80 per cent of patients who followed a tailored exercise regime were cancer-free, compared with 74 per cent of those who were offered just health education materials. The risk of dying, cancer coming back, or developing a new cancer was 28 per cent lower in the exercise group.