Colon cancer survival rates improved with exercise, first-of-its-kind study finds

Colon cancer patients saw improved survival rates after a 3-year exercise program, according to a first-of-its-kind international experiment.

The research, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting Sunday and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, found the exercise program kept disease at bay with the benefits rivaling some drugs.

Among 889 patients with treatable colon cancer who had completed chemotherapy, half were given information promoting fitness and nutrition while the others worked with a coach. They met every two weeks for a year, then monthly for the next two years, helping participants find ways to increase their physical activity.