If you exercise systematically after cancer surgery, there is a risk of cancer recurrence and death ↓
Jun 02, 2025
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This is the result of the large-scale international clinical trial (code name challenge, CHALLENGE) conducted on 889 colorectal cancer patients in six countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. The study was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual conference in 2025 and was also published in the world-renowned journal New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
According to ASCO, 889 participants enrolled in the 2009-2023 international challenge clinical trial, and the average age of participants was 61 years old and 51% were female. Most patients (90%) had stage 3 colorectal cancer, and the remaining 10% had stage 2 high-risk colorectal cancer. All patients had previously undergone surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy.
In the clinical trial, patients were randomly assigned to participate in a systematic exercise program (445 people) or to receive health education materials on physical activity and healthy nutritional intake (444 people). In addition, all participants received standard cancer surveillance and follow-up treatment.
Patients who participated in the exercise program conducted a three-year coaching session and supervised exercise session with a physical activity consultant and were given a 'Exercise Prescription'. Exercise guidance was given to walk three to four times a week for 45 to 65 minutes per session, and some replaced exercise with kayaking and skiing instead of walking.
As a result of the clinical trial, patients who participated in the exercise program after 5 years had a 28% lower risk of recurrence or developing new cancer than those who received only the data. The risk of death after 8 years was 37% lower in the group who participated in the systematic exercise program than in the group who received the data only.
Patients who participated in the exercise program had more musculoskeletal side effects (19%) such as muscle tension or bone fracture compared to the health education group (12%), but the majority showed mild levels.
ASCO's chief medical officer, Dr. Julie Graalow, said the effect of exercise on the prognosis of cancer patients is better than medicine, adding that the study was conducted only on colorectal cancer patients, but there is no reason why the results should not apply to other cancers.
Meanwhile, the researchers will investigate the process of exercise reducing cancer recurrence through blood samples from patients who participated in the clinical trial.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
