#CancerRecovery

Recent headlines touting that “exercise is better than drugs” for cancer remission have captured the public’s imagination, sparking debate between proponents of “natural” interventions and advocates of traditional medicine. However, analysis of the latest landmark research reveals the reality is more nuanced than the catchy titles suggest – and the implications for cancer patients, including those in Thailand, could be profound if correctly understood and applied.

At the source of the recent media buzz is a major study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, focusing on patients recovering from colon cancer, the world’s third-most common cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related death. Conducted between 2009 and 2024 across six countries, including Australia and Canada, the clinical trial followed 889 patients who had undergone colon cancer surgery and completed chemotherapy. Participants were randomized into two groups: one received a rigorously structured, professionally supervised exercise programme tailored to cancer survivors; the other group received health education materials on the benefits of physical activity and healthy eating, but without extra support or monitoring (The Guardian, Oncology Central).

A groundbreaking international clinical trial has revealed that a structured exercise regimen after cancer treatment can significantly lower the risk of recurrence and overall mortality, equaling—and even surpassing—the impact of conventional pharmaceutical therapies. This new research, presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, has rapidly shifted medical opinion and could transform after-care protocols for cancer survivors around the world, including those in Thailand.

Thai women who survive cancer may face a double burden in their recovery, with new international research indicating they are more likely than men to experience ongoing fatigue and depression. According to recent findings discussed in a NBC News report, female cancer survivors report higher rates of these debilitating symptoms after treatment, highlighting a significant gender gap in cancer survivorship experiences.

The significance of this research resonates deeply in Thailand, where thousands of women each year survive cancers such as breast, cervical, and colon cancer, but then battle lingering health effects. The study underscores that while medical breakthroughs have improved survival rates dramatically in recent years, quality of life after cancer remains a pressing issue, especially for women. Thai public health authorities and patient support organizations have long noted that post-cancer symptoms, including chronic tiredness and emotional struggles, are under-addressed in post-treatment care.