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With colon cancer rates rising throughout the world, particularly in adults under 50, finding a way to lessen the chance of getting the disease — or keeping it from returning after a diagnosis — is at the forefront of many people’s minds.
Now, a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that exercise can help prevent colon cancer from coming back.
Researchers followed 889 people for about eight years. Each of them had Stage 3 or high-risk Stage 2 colon cancer. Participants were 61 years old, on average.
After undergoing chemotherapy for colon cancer, half of the participants were prescribed an exercise regimen with a physical activity consultant for three years. The other half were given a health education booklet with information on exercise and healthy eating, but did not have a consultant to hold them to a workout regimen.
While individuals in the physical activity group could choose from different workouts, most people opted for a 45-minute brisk walk four times a week, study leader Dr. Christopher Booth told NBC News.
Those in the physical activity group had a 28% lower chance of their colon cancer returning when compared to those in the control group. The five-year disease-free survival rate was also higher in the physical activity group; 80.3% compared to 73.9%. Exercise also reduced the likelihood of developing any kind of cancer overall.
Dr. Monisha Singh, a medical oncologist at Houston Methodist Hospital, said the study “helps to formalize what oncologists have observed for a long time, that your lifestyle plays a significant role not only in your risk of developing cancer but also in your risk of recurrence.” Singh is not affiliated with the study.
“This is a simple intervention that anyone can easily incorporate into their daily routines and serves a very important purpose of reducing cancer risk,” Singh said.
While exercise is a boon to lower your cancer risk, it has other benefits, too.
“Walking is also great in helping reduce the risk of other chronic diseases such as cardiac disease and diabetes mellitus,” Singh added.
wera Rodsawang via Getty Images
While genetics play a role in colon cancer risk, so does your lifestyle.
This study adds to mounting evidence that while certain colon cancer risk factors are genetic (like if a first-degree relative had the disease), other controllable risk factors, such as physical activity, also play a role in the development of the disease.
“In Japan, there is not a very high incidence of colon cancer. Instead, they have a higher risk of stomach cancer. However, if you take a person out of Japan and have them live in the United States, after several years, that risk flips. They will now have a higher risk of developing colon cancer,” Singh said.
“This is likely related to the more sedentary lifestyle here in the West as well as the food intake. Food in the U.S. is more processed with more red meat exposure, less fiber, less fresh fruit and vegetables and this likely plays a role in the development of colorectal cancer,” she noted. It’s well established that consuming the recommended amount of fiber each day can help keep your colon healthy and help your body flush out any cancer-causing toxins.
In addition to exercise, you should follow recommended screening guidelines to reduce your colon cancer risk.
“You can reduce your risk of developing colon cancer by undergoing screening colonoscopy or other colon cancer screening tests as recommended by your doctor,” said Singh.
The official guidelines say most people should begin getting screening colonoscopies at 45. Certain people, though, like those with a family history, folks who have certain inflammatory bowel diseases or concerning colon cancer symptoms — blood in the stool, rectal bleeding, weight loss, a change in bowel habits — may be told to start sooner.
It’s also important for those with a previous colon cancer diagnosis to stay up-to-date on screenings and tests.
While exercise, along with diet, can help you lower your colon cancer risk, following guidelines can also help you stay healthy.