Exercise as Medicine: New Study Highlights Its Role in Reducing Cancer Recurrence

The international oncology community has welcomed with great interest the results of the randomized clinical trial CHALLENGE – Structured Exercise after Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer, presented at ASCO 2025 and recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The study included 889 patients who had undergone surgery for colon cancer and completed adjuvant chemotherapy. Participants were divided into two groups: one followed a structured, three-year exercise program, while the other received only general education on healthy lifestyle habits.

 The findings were striking:

- A 28% reduction in cancer recurrence

-A 37% reduction in overall mortality

for those in the structured exercise group, compared to the control group.

At GMI – German Oncology Center, the Department of Integrative Medicine has, for the past five years, implemented supervised group exercise programs for patients both during active cancer treatment and in the post-treatment phase. Among these is a dedicated Tai Chi class, which combines gentle movement, breathwork, and focus—ideal for physical and mental recovery.

The outcomes have been clearly noticeable: patients report improved physical function, better management of treatment side effects, and enhanced psychological wellbeing. Just as importantly, these groups foster a sense of community and peer support, which plays a powerful role in the healing journey.

The CHALLENGE study provides strong clinical evidence supporting what we at GMI have already observed in practice: exercise is a vital component of comprehensive cancer care.

Editors:

Dr. Anastasios Papadopoulos - Oncologist

Konstantina Stylianou - Head of Integrative Medicine