#Cancercare

In a remarkable development that could transform cancer care worldwide, a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has revealed that structured exercise can improve cancer survival by an astounding 37%—a benefit rivaling many advanced medicines and technological breakthroughs. Unlike complex new drugs or costly therapies, this intervention centers on a surprisingly simple remedy: regular, supervised physical activity.

This finding carries profound significance for Thai cancer patients and caregivers, as it highlights a practical step to improve long-term outcomes without imposing high costs or requiring state-of-the-art equipment. As cancer survival rates improve across Thailand—now over 50% for many types due to earlier detection and better treatments—there is growing demand for evidence-based strategies that empower survivors to take charge of their health and prevent recurrence (Cancer in Thailand). The latest research suggests exercise might be one of the most potent, yet underutilized, tools available.

A major study in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that a structured, supervised exercise program can lower death risk and cancer recurrence among colon cancer survivors. Over three years, participants who followed the program had a 37% lower risk of death and a 28% reduction in recurrence compared with those who received only general health guidance. The results offer a practical, low-cost approach to improving long-term outcomes for cancer patients worldwide, including in Thailand.

Radiation therapy is often portrayed in media and popular culture as a high-tech and impersonal process, overshadowed by images of chemotherapy’s more visible side effects. But as illuminated by a recent guest column in the Washington Post, the real-life, day-to-day experience of patients undergoing radiation therapy—especially those in palliative care—offers a different, far more nuanced picture of both physical realities and emotional journeys, providing valuable insights for Thai readers as the country modernizes its cancer care infrastructure (Washington Post).

Radiation therapy is often portrayed as a high-tech, impersonal process. In Thailand, patient stories reveal daily realities that matter most to those in palliative care: relief, dignity, and manageable comfort. As the country expands radiotherapy capacity and cancer-support services, these insights come at a pivotal moment for Thai readers.

In Thailand, radiation therapy is widely used for breast, prostate, and head-and-neck cancers. Many patients prioritize relief and quality of life, especially in advanced disease. Provincial hospitals and major Bangkok centers are expanding access to radiotherapy, while patient-centered care grows alongside technology. Local health data show that effective symptom management often accompanies treatment, underscoring the need for both modern equipment and compassionate staff.

New research presented at a leading oncology conference highlights music therapy as a powerful aid for cancer patients. The study suggests music-based interventions can reduce anxiety, stress, and difficult emotions, offering an approach that may complement traditional therapies. Data from well-respected institutions indicates these effects can be comparable to some forms of talk therapy, especially when patients actively participate in creating music or lyrics.

In Thailand, medical professionals are increasingly advocating for holistic cancer care that treats the whole person. While advances in treatment are clear, the emotional and psychological burdens of cancer remain significant. Health leaders say integrating music therapy into standard care could improve quality of life for survivors and support long-term resilience.

A new wave of cancer care is emerging: exercise is not just a supplement but a targeted intervention that can influence cancer biology and treatment outcomes. Research from the Exercise Oncology Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center shows that a carefully prescribed exercise plan can counteract treatment side effects and support recovery. For Thai readers facing cancer, this direction offers practical, evidence-based steps beyond traditional medicine.

Historically, patients were urged to rest during treatment. Today, scientists are rethinking inactivity. Spaceflight and chemotherapy-related fatigue share striking similarities, including muscle and cognitive decline. Dr. Jessica Scott, a leader in exercise oncology who previously worked with NASA, notes that both cancer patients and astronauts can benefit from movement. The key is tailoring activity to each person’s situation, an approach Dr. Scott has applied from space medicine to oncology.

A groundbreaking shift in cancer treatment is underway, as emerging scientific evidence highlights exercise not just as a supplement to traditional therapies but as a powerful intervention in its own right. Recent research led by the Exercise Oncology Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) has demonstrated that strategically prescribed exercise can meaningfully influence cancer biology, helping to counteract the damaging effects of treatment while potentially improving patient outcomes. For Thai readers facing cancer, this latest research marks a promising new direction, offering hope and actionable steps beyond conventional medicine.

A new wave of research is shining light on the crucial, yet often overlooked, aspects of survivorship for breast cancer patients—including sexual health, holistic symptom management, and lifestyle choices like exercise and diet. The 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium recently devoted a special session to these quality-of-life issues, signaling an important shift in how doctors, researchers, and advocates are addressing the daily realities faced by breast cancer survivors worldwide—including here in Thailand.

A new wave of research is highlighting survivorship beyond tumor control—focusing on sexual health, holistic symptom management, and lifestyle choices such as exercise and diet. The 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium dedicated a session to these quality-of-life issues, signaling a shift in how clinicians, researchers, and advocates address daily life for breast cancer survivors worldwide, including in Thailand.

This matters for Thai readers because breast cancer remains among the most common cancers in women, and survivorship is improving thanks to earlier detection and better treatments. Data from Thailand’s health authorities show more women living years beyond diagnosis, which elevates the importance of quality-of-life considerations. The symposium’s emphasis on sexual wellbeing, supplements, and exercise offers practical guidance, but also underscores the cultural and clinical challenges of discussing these topics in medical and social settings.

A growing chorus of oncologists warns that cancer survival is not the end of the journey. Many survivors, especially women with gynecologic cancers, endure unaddressed sexual side effects long after treatment ends. Chronic vaginal pain and painful intercourse diminish quality of life and strain relationships, even when cancer is curable. A Guardian commentary by a senior oncologist highlighted a patient whose curable cancer left her living with years of sexual pain due to insufficient aftercare and open communication.

A recent call by leading oncologists highlights an often-overlooked aspect of cancer care: the unaddressed and persistent sexual side effects experienced by many survivors, particularly women. Despite advances in cancer treatment and survival rates, distressing symptoms such as chronic vaginal pain and painful intercourse continue to affect the quality of life for thousands, including those whose cancers are considered imminently curable. This troubling issue has come into new focus following a commentary in The Guardian by a prominent oncologist, who detailed the story of a patient whose curable cancer left her suffering years of sexual pain due to lack of adequate aftercare and frank communication.

A major global review finds that structured exercise can significantly lessen some of the hardest side effects of cancer treatment. The analysis, led by researchers at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, surveyed hundreds of studies from 2012 to 2024. For Thai readers, the findings offer practical, culturally resonant guidance for integrating physical activity into cancer care.

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy can take a heavy toll on the body and mind. In Thailand, cancer remains a leading health challenge affecting families and the health system. Until now, non-pharmaceutical support like exercise lacked clear, nationwide standards to guide clinicians and patients in recovery plans.

A sweeping new global review has concluded that exercise can dramatically reduce some of the most debilitating side effects experienced by cancer patients, including heart and nerve damage, cognitive impairment, and psychological distress. Published on April 29, 2025, in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, this analysis—led by Shengjing hospital of China Medical University—is being hailed as the most exhaustive review of its kind to date and offers compelling evidence to routinely incorporate physical activity into cancer care protocols (The Guardian).

A major international review shows that exercise can significantly lessen the side-effects of cancer treatments. The findings, reported this week, come from the largest study of its kind and underscore physical activity as a core part of cancer care. For Thailand, where cancer cases are rising and survivorship care is increasingly prioritized, the update is especially timely.

Cancer therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted drugs save lives but often cause fatigue, reduced physical function, anxiety, and mood changes. Thai and global oncologists have long recognized these challenges, yet effective, validated solutions were scarce. The new review draws on numerous clinical trials and provides strong evidence that structured, supervised exercise during treatment can ease these adverse effects. Research by leading institutions shows improvements in strength, endurance, and mental wellbeing tied to regular movement.

A comprehensive new scientific review has found that exercise can significantly alleviate the side-effects of cancer treatments, a discovery that is being hailed as a game-changer for patients and healthcare providers alike. The findings, reported this week by The Guardian and based on the largest study of its kind to date, highlight the pivotal role of physical activity in improving the quality of life for cancer survivors — a population that has been steadily growing due to advances in oncological care. These insights carry particular significance for Thailand, where the burden of cancer continues to rise and survivorship care is an emerging public health priority.

A new focus in cancer care is highlighting an often neglected area: sexual health. While treatments advance and survival improves, many patients’ sexual health needs are still overlooked in research and clinical practice. This gap affects quality of life and recovery, underscoring the need for changes in patient care protocols worldwide, including Thailand, where social taboos and limited support persist.

Growing evidence shows sexual health is closely tied to overall physical and emotional well-being. In discussions with clinicians, it’s clear there are substantial gaps in support for sexual health during and after cancer treatment. Surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation can cause sexual dysfunction and changes in body image, adding to the distress of diagnosis.

A new focus in cancer care is emerging, shining a light on an often neglected aspect of patient well-being: sexual health. Recent discussions among medical professionals highlight that, while cancer treatments have advanced and survival rates are improving, the sexual health needs of patients are still frequently overlooked in both research and clinical practice. This oversight has a profound impact on quality of life and recovery, underscoring an urgent need for change in patient care protocols around the world—including Thailand, where taboos around sexual health and limited support services persist.

A growing body of research and expert commentary shows a global, including Thai, need: sexual health support is often unmet for people living with and beyond cancer. As treatments improve and survival rises, quality of life—especially intimate wellbeing—becomes a crucial part of care. Medical professionals in Thailand and abroad urge clinicians, patients, and policymakers to treat sexual health as an essential component of cancer care, not a side issue.

Cancer touches every facet of life, and sexual health is particularly vulnerable to disruption. A psychologist from a leading international medical center explains that sexual well-being is connected to emotional and physical recovery during diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Yet doctors frequently overlook these conversations, even as Thai and global studies show most patients experience some sexual health concern during their cancer journey.

Recent research and expert statements have highlighted an often silent struggle faced by cancer patients worldwide—including here in Thailand: the significant unmet need for sexual health support during and after cancer treatment. As treatments improve and survival rates rise, the quality of life, especially intimate wellbeing, has emerged as an urgent concern for many survivors and their families. Medical professionals from the Cleveland Clinic and Thai academic circles now urge healthcare providers, patients, and policy-makers to recognize sexual health as an integral part of cancer care—one that is too often neglected, misunderstood, or left unaddressed (Cleveland Clinic, 2024; J Med Assoc Thai PDF).

A groundbreaking discussion at the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium is reshaping what it means to survive breast cancer, casting a long-overdue spotlight on taboo topics from sexual health to holistic supplements and daily habits. The latest research—summarized in a special session fantastically dubbed “Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll”—highlights not only new scientific findings, but emphasizes the urgent need for open, stigma-free conversations between breast cancer survivors, their families, and the medical community. For Thai survivors and their families who may face culture-specific taboos around sexuality and alternative medicine, these global insights are particularly relevant—and potentially life changing.

A recent session at an international breast cancer symposium reframes survivorship. It spotlights sexual health, holistic supplements, and practical daily habits as integral parts of living well after cancer. The discussion, delivered under a provocative theme, emphasizes open, stigma-free conversations among survivors, families, and clinicians. For Thai readers, these insights are especially timely given cultural sensitivities around sexuality and traditional medicine.

Survivorship extends beyond eradicating cancer cells. Globally, more than two million women are living with breast cancer, including tens of thousands of Thai women each year. For many, daily quality of life is affected by physical and psychological side effects that are too often left unspoken. The session moderator from a leading cancer center noted that survivorship information should address the benefits and drawbacks of modifiable lifestyle factors that influence life after cancer.

A landmark international study suggests medical cannabis may support cancer treatment, potentially slowing disease progression and improving quality of life for patients. Described as the largest investigation to date, the research tracked thousands of cancer patients prescribed cannabis-based medicines as part of their care. While results are encouraging, experts caution that longer, controlled studies are needed to confirm cause and effect and determine optimal dosing. Data from leading medical centers and public health researchers indicates significant relief from pain, nausea, and anxiety, alongside improvements in quality of life for some participants.