Exercise Cuts Cancer Death Risk by Over a Third: Study Finds - Video

In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers have provided the most definitive evidence to date that structured exercise significantly improves survival outcomes for cancer patients. The international randomized controlled trial, conducted across 55 cancer centers in six countries, followed nearly 900 patients and found that those who participated in a structured exercise program had a 37% lower risk of dying and a 28% lower risk of cancer recurrence or new cancer, compared to those who did not.

While earlier studies hinted at the benefits of exercise in cancer care, they fell short of establishing a causal relationship.

The trial focused on patients diagnosed with Stage III or high-risk Stage II colon cancer who had undergone standard treatments including surgery and chemotherapy. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: a control group that received educational materials promoting physical activity and nutrition, and a treatment group that also received three years of support from a “physical activity consultant,” a blend of personal trainer and life coach, to encourage sustained aerobic exercise.

Most patients chose brisk walking—about 45 minutes, four times a week-as their primary activity. “Eighty percent of patients in the exercise group remained disease-free after five years, compared to 74% in the control group,” Christopher Booth, senior author and professor of oncology at Queen’s University, reported. After eight years, the exercise program had prevented one death for every 14 people who participated in the exercise arm of the study. The reduction was specifically in colon cancer deaths, Booth said - not deaths from other causes, like cardiovascular disease.

Although the biological mechanisms remain unclear, blood samples collected during the study may provide insights. This study suggests it may be time to reframe exercise not just as rehabilitation, but as a vital part of cancer treatment itself.

Reference: JOUR, Structured Exercise after Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer, Kerry S. Courneya, Janette L. Vardy, doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2502760, New England Journal of Medicine, https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMoa2502760, 2025/06/02