Physical Activity and Survival After Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis

Abstract

Purpose Physically active individuals have a lower risk of developing colorectal cancer but the influence of exercise on cancer survival is unknown. Patients and Methods By a prospective, observational study of 573 women with stage I to III colorectal cancer, we studied colorectal cancer–specific and overall mortality according to predefined physical activity categories before and after diagnosis and by change in activity after diagnosis. To minimize bias by occult recurrences, we excluded women who died within 6 months of their postdiagnosis physical activity assessment. Results Increasing levels of exercise after diagnosis of nonmetastatic colorectal cancer reduced cancer-specific mortality (P for trend = .008) and overall mortality (P for trend = .003). Compared with women who engaged in less than 3 metabolic equivalent task [MET] -hours per week of physical activity, those engaging in at least 18 MET-hours per week had an adjusted hazard ratio for colorectal cancer–specific mortality of 0.39 (95% CI, ...