Regular Exercise: A Strategy for Increasing Lifespan in Colorectal Cancer Patients

A new study published in the journal 'Cancer' by the American Cancer Society shows that exercise can help those diagnosed with colorectal cancer live as long as those without the disease. Dr. Justin Brown, an assistant professor and director of the cancer metabolism program at Louisiana State University, told CNN, 'Although many cancer patients today live longer after diagnosis than in past decades, the survival rate among this group is still lower than that of the general population.' He added, 'This study shows that physical activity after a colorectal cancer diagnosis can help patients live longer, and exercise helps some patients live as long as those without cancer, or even longer.' Dr. Kate Diaz, a behavioral medicine assistant professor at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, who did not participate in this research, told CNN that while researchers previously knew regular exercise could improve survival rates, the idea that exercise could help patients achieve a lifespan equivalent to that of normal individuals was less recognized until now. According to the World Health Organization, colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the world, accounting for 10 percent of all cancer diagnoses. Kamran Bagheri Lankarani, head of the Iranian Gastroenterology Endoscopy Association, previously announced that 13,000 to 15,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer annually in Iran. In the year 1401 (2022-2023), twelve thousand cases of this cancer were recorded in the country, with six thousand fatalities, and according to Mr. Lankarani, all of these deaths were preventable. These new findings could be good news for individuals undergoing treatment or recovery. It is estimated that colorectal cancer will be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among adults aged 20 to 40 in the U.S. by 2030. For this study, researchers monitored three thousand colorectal cancer patients and recorded their physical activity during and after chemotherapy. They then followed these patients for about six years and analyzed each individual's lifespan against the predicted lifespan based on age, gender, and year of cancer diagnosis. The results showed that not only did those who exercised regularly live longer than expected, but the risk of cancer recurrence among them also decreased. Dr. Diaz told CNN that this study had an observational basis, meaning it cannot be said with certainty that exercise improved survival rates among these individuals. However, according to Diaz, it is reasonable to conclude that physical activity was effective in this regard. Some previous studies have also shown that physical activity has a positive effect on the environment in which cancer cells may grow and on the cells themselves. Earlier, in June 2023, a study showed that just one or two minutes of intense exercise, such as brisk walking, housework, or playing with children, can reduce the risk of cancer.