Physical Activity Trumps Medication: How Exercise Slashes Cancer Relapse Risk
Regular Physical Activity May Offer Superior Protection Against Cancer Recurrence Compared to Prescription Drugs
Get moving! A jaw-dropping study reveals that exercise does more than lower cancer risk – it significantly minimizes the risk of cancer relapse, even beating out meds. Sounds like a game-changer for oncology! 🏃♂️🏥
So, you might wonder, what's the deal with exercise after a cancer diagnosis? That's exactly what a team of international researchers studied, and here's what they found: Exercise can radically reduce death risk and beat the odds when it comes to avoiding a cancer comeback. 🌟✨
The infamous CO21-Challenge: The study, which made headlines at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual congress, included 889 patients with advanced colorectal cancer who'd already undergone chemo and surgery. Half of them got an exercise program, while the other half received only health advice.
Helping patients walk the talk: To reach their exercise goals, the first group met with a personal trainer twice a month for the first three years, then once a month. Their weekly goal was the equivalent of three to four 45-60 minute walks, which they could do in their preferred style of exercise.
The shocking results:
So, what happened? Stick with me! After eight years, mortality was 37% lower in the active group. That's massive! Furthermore, people in this group had a 28% lower risk of recurring cancer compared to those who just got health counseling. 🤯🌟
The verdict: It's elementary, my dear Watson:
Christopher Booth, a researcher from Queen's University in Canada and the study's lead author, sums it up like this: After chemotherapy and surgery, about 30% of patients with colorectal cancer in high-risk stages two and three face recurrence. He says, "Patients often ask us, 'What else can I do to improve my prognosis?'" Now, according to Booth, we have an answer: "Regular exercise reduces the risk of recurrence or a new cancer, improves quality of life, and helps people live longer." 🤯⌛️
A better bet than medication: The results are so exciting that experts are calling it a "better alternative to medication." Julie Gralow, the top Asco doctor not involved in the study, says, "The benefit [of exercise] is as great as that of many medications: 28% lower risk of disease, 37% lower risk of death." But here's the kicker: medications are pricey and often have pesky side effects. "Therefore, exercise is better than medication." 💸🤕
A paradigm shift in cancer aftercare:
Even though the study only looked at colorectal cancer, experts think the results would probably apply to other types of cancer. However, Booth emphasizes that more studies are needed for other types of cancer. 🔬🧪
On the flip side, Booth and his team argue for a change in cancer follow-up care. Doctors should start discussing exercise programs with their patients after treatment.implementing it globally is feasible: costs per patient ranged from $3,000 to $5,000 USD (about $2,635 to $4,400 EUR), which is way cheaper than many cancer meds. Importantly, patients shouldn't just get advice but should be actively supported in their exercise journey. Keep moving, cancer warriors! 💪💪💪
Community policy should consider incorporating exercise programs as a standard component of cancer aftercare, given their significant role in minimizing the risk of cancer relapse. Employment policy should also be flexible to accommodate cancer survivors who need time to maintain their fitness and exercise regimens, as these activities have been shown to improve health outcomes in managing chronic diseases such as cancer. Science and medical-conditions research should intensify efforts to study the effects of exercise on other types of cancer, potentially leading to a paradigm shift in cancer aftercare. Health-and-wellness programs, promoting fitness-and-exercise as a cancer prevention and management strategy, should be widely implemented in communities, not just for cancer survivors, but also for the general population to foster overall wellness and disease prevention.
