This habit could help colon cancer survivors live as long as healthy people

A recent study found that physical activity could enable colon cancer survivors to achieve survival rates similar to those of the general population.

Researchers analyzed data from 2,875 patients with stage 3 colon cancer who reported their exercise levels after surgery and chemotherapy to assess whether exercise reduces the life expectancy gap in these patients.

The research established a direct relationship between physical activity and long-term survival in these patients. According to the analysis, those who performed less than 3.0 MET hours per week had survival rates three years after treatment that were 17.1% lower than those of the matched general population.

However, those achieving 18.0 MET hours or more showed a much smaller difference, with a survival rate only 3.5% lower.

Similar results were observed in another study group, where survivors with low levels of physical activity had survival rates 10.8% lower than the general population, while those with 18.0 MET hours or more reduced this difference to 4.4%.

These findings show that patients who maintained a regular exercise routine after overcoming the disease achieved survival rates close to those of people with no history of colon cancer.

“This new information may help colon cancer patients understand how factors they can control (their physical activity levels) may have a significant impact on their long-term prognosis,” explained Justin C. Brown, PhD, of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.

To achieve these benefits, health guidelines suggest doing at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, which is equivalent to approximately 8.0 MET hours. In this context, the researchers highlighted that the positive impact of exercise on survival not only improves quality of life, but also brings the experience of these patients closer to that of people without the disease.

“Quantifying how physical activity can enable a patient with colon cancer to have a survival experience closer to that of their cancer-free friends and family is powerful information that can be leveraged to help understand the health benefits of physical activity,” Brown said.

While physical activity plays a key role in the recovery of survivors, nutrition remains a crucial factor in preventing the disease.

A Cleveland Clinic study identified dietary metabolites, particularly those associated with red and processed meat consumption, as potentially increasing the risk of early-onset colorectal cancer.

The analysis was based on data from patients treated for this type of cancer at the institution, revealing differences in metabolites and the intestinal microbiome between young and older adults affected by the disease.

The team of researchers is now seeking to validate these findings at a national level and explore whether certain medications or dietary adjustments may contribute to the prevention of colorectal cancer.

Although further research is still required, specialists are already implementing these discoveries in clinical practice.

“Before this study, I already knew that diet is a major factor in colon cancer risk, but I didn’t always discuss it with my patients during their first appointment. There’s so much going on that it can be overwhelming,” explained gastrointestinal oncologist Suneel Kamath.

“Now, I always make sure to talk about this with my patients and any healthy friends or family members who are with them, to try to give them the tools they need to make informed lifestyle decisions,” she said.

*This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from O Globo (GDA), and was reviewed by a journalist and an editor.