Exercise Outranks Medication in Long-term Cancer Remission: Study Shows the Power of a Healthy Lifestyle
Regular physical activity demonstrates a more effective approach in cancer prevention compared to medication.
A game-changer has emerged in the cancer battlefield: regular exercise. A new study reveals that exercise can prevent cancer recurrence significantly more effectively than medication, making it a potential game-changer in tumor management.
Get ready to bump medication aside because exercise is taking center stage. Research findings suggest that exercise delivers a staggering 37% decrease in mortality rates and a 28% reduction in cancer recurrences for up to eight years, compared to those who only receive health counseling.
The CO21-Challenge: Exercise vs. Health Advice in Cancer Patients
This groundbreaking study, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco) and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved 889 advanced colon cancer patients. Subjects had already undergone chemotherapy and surgery, with half assigned a tailored exercise program supervised by personal trainers, and the other half given basic advice about eating habits and simple exercise suggestions.
An astonishing revelation came to light when researchers discovered that, by sticking to their exercise goals (equivalent to three to four 45-60 minute walking sessions a week), members of the exercise group exhibited:
- Lower mortality rates (37% reduction)
- Lower recurrence risk (28%)
Exercise: A Safer and Cheaper Alternative to Medication?
Christopher Booth, lead author of the study and Oncologist at Queen's University in Kingston (Canada), described the effects of exercise as "groundbreaking" and "as great as many medications with fewer side effects."
According to Julie Gralow, an Asco physician not involved in the study, "the benefit [of exercise] is as great as that of many medications." While medications are expensive and come with numerous side effects, exercise provides a cost-effective and more tolerable alternative.
Beyond Colon Cancer: What About Other Tumors?
Although the study only focused on colon cancer patients, Booth argues that the results should apply to other cancer types. The data from this study already suggests that breast and prostate cancer cases are less common in the exercise group. However, further research is required to investigate the impact of exercise on various other types of cancers.
A Paradigm Shift in Cancer Aftercare
Booth underlined the fundamental change exercise represents in cancer treatment regimens and called for a shift in cancer follow-up care, advocating for oncologists worldwide to discuss exercise programs with patients post-treatment. With the estimated cost per patient ranging from $2,635 to $4,400 euros - significantly lower than many cancer medications - the monetary aspect supports this call for action. What's more, patients should be actively guided throughout the process for optimal results, not just recommended passively.
So, let's drop the medication and pump up the push-ups! Fitness isn't just for the fit anymore - it's here to save lives. It's time to reshape traditional cancer care and embrace the power of exercise.
- The CO21-Challenge study, focusing on advanced colon cancer patients, indicates that a tailored exercise program can lead to lower mortality rates by 37% and a 28% decrease in cancer recurrences compared to health advice alone.
- Science supports the notion that exercise, like chronic-kidney-disease medications, can deliver significant health benefits, including a 28% reduction in cancer recurrences and a 37% decrease in mortality rates for up to eight years.
- In light of the CO21-Challenge findings, employment policy within community and medical-conditions focused organizations should prioritize guidelines and resources to promote exercise for cancer patients, as it could help manage chronic-diseases like cancer and provide cost-effective alternatives to medication.
- Health-and-wellness advocates argue that fitness-and-exercise strategies should not only be recommended to cancer patients but actively guided during the follow-up care process to ensure optimal results, reflecting a paradigm shift in cancer aftercare.
