Exercise Proven to Boost Colon Cancer Survival in Landmark Canadian Trial

Jun 3, 2025

A major clinical trial funded by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) has revealed that structured physical activity can significantly improve survival outcomes for people with colon cancer—marking a pivotal shift in how exercise may be integrated into cancer treatment.

Presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual conference and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the 17-year international study followed 889 individuals post-surgery and chemotherapy. Participants who followed a structured exercise program—adding 2.5 hours of moderate activity per week—saw a 28% reduction in cancer recurrence and a 37% decrease in overall mortality.

“This is the first clinical trial in the world designed to answer whether exercise can improve cancer survival, and the results are clear,” said Dr. Chris Booth, study co-chair and medical oncologist at Kingston Health Sciences Centre.

Dr. Kerry Courneya, study co-chair and professor at the University of Alberta, emphasized that exercise should no longer be viewed as an optional quality-of-life measure but rather a critical component of cancer care: “It is a treatment for colon cancer that must be made available to all patients.

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