#ColonCancer

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 ground-breaking international trial has revealed that regular exercise can dramatically increase survival rates among colon cancer patients, with those who participated in a structured program experiencing a 37% reduction in risk of death and significantly lower cancer recurrence rates. This latest research, published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, could fundamentally change global approaches to treating colon cancer—including new implications for clinical practice in Thailand.

In a comprehensive study involving 889 colon cancer patients, researchers assessed the impact of sustained physical activity after chemotherapy. Half of the participants were placed on a supervised exercise regimen, while the other half received standard health advice through informational leaflets. After a five-year follow-up, the results were dramatic: 80% of those in the exercise group remained cancer-free, compared with just 74% in the control group—indicating a 28% reduction in the chance of recurrence or a new cancer developing (BBC News).

A beloved physical activity endorsed by millions for its health benefits—long-distance running—may be unexpectedly associated with a higher risk of developing precancerous colon growths among young adults, according to a new study presented at the prestigious American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2025 conference in Chicago. The study, conducted by researchers based in Washington, DC, challenges the prevailing wisdom that vigorous aerobic exercise is universally protective against all forms of cancer, raising pressing questions for health-minded Thais—especially the country’s growing cohort of marathon and ultramarathon enthusiasts.

A surge of scientific research in 2024 is intensifying fears that Campylobacter, a bacterium commonly found in undercooked chicken, may be fueling a global epidemic of colon cancer—particularly among younger adults. Newly published findings show that infections caused by this foodborne pathogen not only trigger stomach illness but might also accelerate the onset and spread of deadly colorectal tumors, according to leading researchers. As Thailand grapples with rising cases of both campylobacteriosis and early-onset colon cancer, these revelations could reshape food safety policy and public health strategies nationwide.

A new investigation into the factors driving a troubling worldwide increase in colon cancer among young adults points to damage caused by certain gut bacteria as a potential culprit, according to recently reported research. The findings, which come amid mounting concern about the sharp rise in colorectal cancer diagnoses in people under 50, highlight the possible role of the gut microbiome—a bustling ecosystem of trillions of organisms living in the digestive tract—in influencing cancer risk well before middle age. The research underscores an urgent need for both the medical community and the wider public in Thailand to consider how diet, antibiotics, and lifestyle choices may impact long-term gut health and, consequently, cancer prevention.

A leading internal medicine specialist has sounded the alarm on the “alarming rise” of colon cancer in Generation Z and Millennials, urging young people to look out for five critical warning signs as diagnoses soar worldwide. Dr. Zion Ko Lamm, whose insights have attracted nearly a million followers on social media, emphasizes that colon cancer is not just an “old person’s disease”—incidence among the under-50s has jumped by 80% over the past thirty years, even as rates in older adults have declined or stabilised. This alarming trend, detailed in a recent article by the Daily Mail (source), raises urgent questions for Thai healthcare and society, where rapid lifestyle changes could echo Western patterns.

A sweeping new review of scientific studies suggests a strong connection between vitamin D and reduced risk of colorectal cancer, with some findings indicating up to a 58% lower risk among those with the highest vitamin D intake. This revelation, published in April 2025 in the journal Nutrients, could have far-reaching implications for cancer prevention strategies in Thailand and across the globe, offering a natural, affordable, and accessible way to combat one of the world’s most common and deadly cancers (EatingWell).

Recent research published in the journal Cancer reveals that colon cancer survivors who engage in regular physical activity may enjoy longer lives than those who do not. The study, led by Dr. Jeff Meyerhardt from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, highlights the potential of exercise to significantly influence a patient’s long-term prognosis by not only reducing cancer mortality but surpassing the life expectancy of individuals who haven’t experienced cancer.

With colon cancer marking a significant cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, including an alarming rise among younger adults in the United States, the implications of this research are profound. Improved survival rates due to exercise could be a game-changer for patients in Thailand, where sedentary lifestyles are increasingly common among urban populations. Regular exercise could mitigate this trend, offering hope for prolonged life and improved quality of life for Thai patients battling colon cancer.