The European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) has released an update to their colon cancer guidelines, whereby "physical activity, when personalized and delivered as a structured program" is now recommended...for patients with resected stage III or high-risk stage II colon cancer." Over a period of 3 years, 889 stage III or stage II high-risk colon cancer patients enrolled in the CHALLENGE study saw significant improvements in disease-free survival over 5 years (80.3%) compared to 73.9% of patients who received health education materials and standard surveillance with no structured exercise program.
Click here to learn more about the CHALLENGE study.
Seeing structured exercise enter ESMO guidance for colon cancer is significant, because supportive care is often treated as optional advice rather than part of therapy. If a structured programme improves outcomes, it deserves the same implementation attention as drug sequencing. Practical breakdowns like the two onc docs episodes are helpful here, since the barrier is rarely belief — it is clinic time, referral pathways and patient adherence.
ReplyDeleteAn 80.3% versus 73.9% five-year disease-free survival split is not a soft endpoint — that is a real, hard outcome for something as simple as structured exercise. Seeing "physical activity, delivered as a structured program" written into the ESMO guidelines changes the conversation from lifestyle advice to actual therapy. Now the real work starts: referral pathways, trained physio support, and getting patients moving when they are exhausted and afraid.
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