#Oncology

A wave of recent research is reshaping how clinicians view cancer care beyond pills and procedures: staying physically active after a cancer diagnosis is associated with longer survival and a lower chance that the disease returns. Across multiple studies and cancer types, investigators are finding that regular movement—especially when started early and guided by healthcare teams—can improve not only how patients feel during treatment but also how their bodies respond to it. For Thai readers and families navigating cancer care, these findings arrive at a time when Thailand faces a growing cancer burden and a strong emphasis on patient-centered rehabilitation that supports patients’ practical needs at home, at work, and in the community.

A Swedish-led randomized trial has found that a low dose of aspirin given after surgery can dramatically reduce the risk of colorectal cancer returning, but only in patients whose tumors carry a specific genetic alteration in the PIK3 signaling pathway. In the ALASCCA study, more than 3,500 patients across 33 hospitals in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland were followed after colorectal tumor removal. Those with the PIK3 mutation who took 160 milligrams of aspirin daily for three years experienced a 55 percent reduction in recurrence compared with those who received a placebo. The findings, published in a prestigious medical journal, represent a landmark for precision medicine in colorectal cancer, suggesting that a cheap, globally available drug could become an integral part of post-surgical care for a defined subgroup of patients.

A finding with immediate relevance for Thai cancer care: a single session of intense exercise can release protective molecules into the blood that slow the growth of breast cancer cells in the lab. The study followed 32 women who had completed breast cancer treatment and compared two strenuous exercise approaches—high-intensity interval training and weightlifting. Blood drawn after these sessions, when added to cultured cancer cells, repeatedly slowed or halted tumor growth, whereas blood drawn before exercise had no effect. The most potent anticancer signals appeared after interval training, led researchers, with a notable rise in a molecule known as IL-6, which influences immune responses and inflammation. In short, exercise does more than improve fitness—it seems to trigger a direct, beneficial biological response that can influence cancer biology.

A mother watched as her toddler battled a string of infections that never seemed to fit the usual pattern of childhood illness. What began as sleepless nights and worry for a child’s persistent fever and fatigue culminated in a devastating diagnosis: a rare, aggressive cancer known as malignant rhabdoid tumor, identified at Massachusetts General Hospital. The case, though heartbreaking, is now fueling a broader conversation about how such elusive diseases are recognized, studied, and treated. In the wake of this diagnosis, researchers are sharing fresh lines of inquiry into why these tumors arise, how to target them, and why early detection matters so profoundly for families facing the unimaginable.

In a medical research laboratory half a world away from Thailand, Australian scientists have uncovered potentially life-saving evidence that inexpensive heart medications already sitting in millions of Thai medicine cabinets might hold the key to fighting the most aggressive and treatment-resistant form of breast cancer. This groundbreaking discovery could revolutionize cancer care for thousands of Thai women who face devastating diagnoses of triple-negative breast cancer, a particularly lethal disease subtype that has historically offered few treatment options and claimed countless lives across Southeast Asia.

A new laboratory study suggests cheap beta-blocker drugs can slow the spread of triple-negative breast cancer.
The finding could change treatment strategies for a hard-to-treat cancer subtype worldwide. ( Monash University press release )

Triple-negative breast cancer, or TNBC, lacks three common receptors.
Doctors find TNBC hard to treat with hormone or HER2-targeted therapies. ( World Journal review on TNBC prevalence and challenges )

The Monash University team studied how beta-2 adrenoceptor signals drive TNBC invasion.
They found a regulatory gene called HOXC12 helps couple the receptor to pro-invasion signals. ( Monash University press release )

A groundbreaking development from Australian researchers suggests that common heart medicines, already widely used in Thailand, may slow the spread of the aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This repurposing approach could expand treatment options for Thai women facing a disease with limited therapies and high mortality in Southeast Asia.

Researchers at Monash University identified a key pathway in TNBC cells. They found that beta-blocker drugs, such as propranolol, can block beta-2 adrenergic receptors on cancer cells. When stress hormones activate these receptors, cancer cells gain signals that promote growth and metastasis. Blocking these signals could slow tumor progression and potentially lower treatment costs for families across Thailand.

A profound healthcare emergency affecting breast cancer survivors worldwide has been exposed through comprehensive international research revealing that nearly ninety percent of women who successfully overcome cancer subsequently experience severe sexual health complications that remain systematically ignored or inadequately addressed by their medical care teams. This alarming gap in post-treatment support proves especially devastating for Thai women, where complex cultural sensitivities surrounding intimate health discussions intersect with healthcare system limitations to create compounding barriers that prevent survivors from accessing the holistic recovery support they desperately need to rebuild complete physical, emotional, and intimate wellbeing after their cancer journey. As Thailand’s breast cancer detection and treatment capabilities continue advancing, resulting in steadily improving survival rates, the urgent need for comprehensive survivorship care that addresses all aspects of women’s health becomes increasingly critical for ensuring that beating cancer truly means returning to full, satisfying lives rather than merely surviving with diminished quality of life.

Sexual health challenges are both common and deeply distressing among breast cancer survivors, yet the majority of women feel unsupported by their healthcare teams, according to a new international survey. Experts warn that this gap in care may be undermining both physical and emotional recovery for cancer survivors—including rising numbers in Thailand—highlighting an urgent need for more open dialogue and professional guidance.

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers among Thai women, with survival rates steadily increasing thanks to improved detection and treatment. But as more women survive breast cancer, their long-term quality of life—including intimate and sexual wellbeing—is moving to the foreground of cancer care. The Women’s Insight in Sexual Health after Breast Cancer (WISH-BREAST) study, published this week, directly addresses this need, revealing that nearly 90% of survey respondents suffered moderate-to-severe sexual problems following treatment, yet most had received little or no guidance from their healthcare providers. The survey questioned 1,175 survivors (average age 47.5) about their sexual health and information-seeking behavior after breast cancer therapy, and its results offer sobering insights relevant for survivors across the globe—including in Thailand.

A hidden gap in Thailand’s cancer care is leaving nearly nine in ten survivors with untreated intimate health issues. International research shows that while more Thai women survive breast cancer, the healthcare system often fails to address sexuality and women’s overall well-being after treatment.

Thailand’s cultural norms complicate open discussion about sex and intimacy. In urban Bangkok hospitals, survival rates rise, but in rural areas basic cancer care remains inconsistent. Survivors frequently navigate recovery with questions left unasked and unmet, affecting marriages and daily life.

A groundbreaking new study from researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU), published July 2025 in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, has revealed that just one session of exercise—either resistance training or high-intensity interval training (HIIT)—can cut cancer cell growth by as much as 30% in breast cancer survivors. The results reinforce the idea of exercise as an accessible and powerful tool for combating cancer, even beyond its already well-established role in post-treatment recovery and long-term well-being.

Extraordinary scientific breakthrough research from Australia’s prestigious Edith Cowan University, published in the internationally renowned journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, has revealed that just one individual exercise session—whether resistance training or high-intensity interval training—can dramatically reduce cancer cell growth by up to 30% among breast cancer survivors. This groundbreaking discovery fundamentally challenges traditional assumptions about exercise’s cancer-fighting mechanisms, demonstrating that measurable anti-cancer biochemical changes occur immediately after single workout sessions rather than requiring months of consistent training to achieve meaningful results.

A major breakthrough from Edith Cowan University, published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, shows that a single exercise session—resistance training or high-intensity interval training—can reduce breast cancer cell growth by up to 30%. The finding challenges the notion that months of training are required for anticancer benefits and demonstrates immediate biochemical responses after a workout.

In Thailand, breast cancer remains a pressing health concern. Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health reports rising incidence among women, with breast cancer now the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the country. The data highlight the urgent need for accessible, evidence-based interventions to support prevention and survivorship across urban and rural communities alike.

A new study reveals that a simple plant virus—known as the cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV)—could revolutionize cancer treatment by training the human immune system to recognize and destroy tumor cells, according to research led by chemical and nano engineers at the University of California San Diego and published in Cell Biomaterials. Unlike traditional immunotherapies, CPMV stands out for its natural origins and unique effectiveness, demonstrating the potential to provide a cost-effective, sustainable approach to fighting cancer both in preclinical studies and potentially in future human trials (ScienceDaily).

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.

A new experimental mRNA vaccine developed by researchers at a major university demonstrates a remarkable boost to the immune system’s ability to fight cancer in animals. Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the study outlines a potential path toward a universal cancer vaccine that could benefit patients in Thailand and beyond.

For years, scientists have pursued ways to empower the immune system to recognize and destroy tumors. Traditional cancer vaccines are often tailored to specific tumor proteins or target common cancer features. The UF team pursued a broader strategy: an off-the-shelf, non-specific mRNA vaccine designed to amplify responses to standard immunotherapies. In mice, this approach significantly enhanced anti-tumor activity and, in some cases, led to tumor elimination when combined with checkpoint inhibitors such as PD-1 blockers. Senior researchers describe the findings as exciting, suggesting the possibility of a universal cancer vaccine that does not require patient-specific tumor profiling.

A new experimental mRNA vaccine developed by researchers at the University of Florida has demonstrated an unprecedented ability to boost the body’s immune response against cancer, potentially paving the way toward a universal cancer vaccine, according to a landmark study published this week in Nature Biomedical Engineering (MedicalXpress). This innovative approach represents a paradigm shift in cancer therapy that could ultimately benefit patients in Thailand and around the world, offering hope for those with cancers resistant to conventional treatments.

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.

A wave of headlines has cheered that exercise is “better than drugs” for preventing colon cancer recurrence, suggesting an exciting shift in how survivors might chart their recovery. But a closer examination of the latest landmark research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in June 2025, brings a far more nuanced—and ultimately more practical—message for cancer patients and the health community, including here in Thailand. The real story isn’t a competition between medicine and movement, but a call for a more holistic approach in which structured exercise and medical care both play distinctive and powerful roles in ensuring long-term health and survival.

Structured, supervised exercise added to standard cancer care can improve long-term outcomes for colon cancer survivors. Exercise should complement, not replace, medications like chemotherapy. For Thai patients, this translates to a survivorship plan that blends medical treatment with active living.

Colorectal cancer remains a major health concern in Thailand, with incidence expected to rise. Thailand’s National Cancer Control Program emphasizes survivorship programs that integrate physical activity, recognizing that coordinated care influences quality of life and outcomes.

A landmark study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that regular, structured exercise dramatically reduces the risk of cancer recurrence and death for survivors, signaling a potential shift in the way cancer recovery is managed worldwide—including in Thailand. Patients participating in organized exercise programs after treatment showed a 28% lower risk of new or returning cancers and a 37% lower risk of death during the study period, outcomes on par with leading pharmaceutical interventions but achieved through lifestyle changes alone (CNN).

A large international study shows that regular, supervised exercise after cancer treatment can lower the risk of cancer returning and reduce death rates. For Thai survivors, structured movement could become an accessible centerpiece of recovery, merging medical care with everyday activity.

In the trial, nearly 900 colon cancer patients at high risk of recurrence were followed for about eight years. Participants were split into two groups: one received standard guidance on diet and activity, while the other followed a structured exercise program with ongoing coaching and fitness tracking. The study found a 28% reduction in new or returning cancers and a 37% reduction in mortality for those in the exercise group.