For years, health professionals have claimed that exercise can support recovery after cancer, helping people live longer and stay cancer-free. Now, the science confirms it. A new study by Courneya et al. (2025) has determined that regular, structured physical activity after colon cancer treatment can lower the risk of cancer coming back and help people live longer. For patients, this means they can have some level of control over their life after treatment and that exercise is a key factor in their recovery.
Purpose of the study
We already know that strength training and physical activity can help us remain active and healthy, with plenty of research available to support this. But researchers wanted to take this one step further to find out if a structured exercise program could safely and effectively help people after cancer treatment.
Cancer treatment often leaves people feeling tired, weak and less able to carry out everyday tasks. While exercise is known to benefit general health, the researchers wanted to find out if an exercise program could safely improve physical function and quality of life during recovery. They also wanted to assess whether this kind of program would be practical and manageable for patients after treatment.
What the study involved
The study focused on patients who had completed surgery and chemotherapy for stage III or high-risk stage II colon cancer. These are groups that have a higher chance of the cancer returning.
Named the CHALLENGE Trial, it included 889 people from six countries, including Australia. Participants were split into two groups:
- Exercise Group: followed a personalised, supported exercise program for three years, including aerobic activity.
- Education Group: received general health information but no guided exercise program.
Results of the study
This study showed that a structured exercise program after cancer treatment can improve long-term outcomes. Key findings from the research include (Courneya et al. 2025):
- More participants remained cancer-free: After five years, 80% of people in the exercise group had no return of cancer, compared to 74% in the education group.
- Higher survival rates: At eight years, 90% of the exercise group were still alive, compared to 83% in the education group.
- Safe and sustainable: The exercise program was safe for participants and something most people could keep up with.
- Improved physical abilities: Those who exercised felt fitter and were better able to perform everyday activities.
- Better overall wellbeing: Participants reported less fatigue and a higher quality of life.
Assessing the risks
The study did report a slightly higher number of people reporting muscle or joint issues in the exercise group. This highlights the need for support from health professionals, like physiotherapists or exercise physiologists who can prescribe safe, personalised programs for people with a history of colon cancer.
Key takeaways from the study
This study reinforces what we see in clinic every day: regular prescribed exercise is one of the best tools we have to support long-term health, improving your physical abilities and help with recovery, especially after cancer treatment.
If you’ve been through cancer treatment, talk to your doctor or exercise physiologist about how to safely return to exercise.
The final word
This study shows that exercise can be a powerful part of recovery after cancer treatment. Not only is it safe, but it may help people stay cancer-free for longer, improve their survival rates and live a better quality of life. These results are a meaningful step forward and are likely to shape how recovery after cancer is supported in the future. Health professionals are paying attention, and this kind of research will help to make exercise a core part of post-treatment care.
References:
Courneya K, Vardy J, O’Callaghan C, Gill S, Friedenreich C, Wong R, Dhillon H, Coyle V, Chua N, Jonker D, Beale P, Haider K, Tang P, Bonaventura T, Wong R, Lim H, Burge M, Hubay S, Sanatani M, Campbell K, Arthuso F, Turner J, Meyer R, Brundage M, O’Brien P, Tu D & Booth C (2025), ‘Structured Exercise after Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer', The New England Journal of Medicine, 393(1):13-25, DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2502760.
