Can Exercise Help Reduce Colon Cancer Risk?
Jake Newby
| 4 min read
Jake Newby is a brand journalist for Blue Cross Blue...
Key Takeaways
- Health care professionals have consistently found that people who are physically active are less likely to develop colon cancer than those who sit much of the day.
- Exercise reduces inflammation, improves immune function and insulin sensitivity and helps regulate body weight — all factors that have been tied to cancer growth and development.
- Staying physically active following cancer surgery and chemotherapy can produce positive long-term health outcomes, according to research.
- Generally, research suggests that physical activity after cancer treatment can reduce fatigue and enhance mental well-being.
Most of us know that exercise can improve heart health, help us maintain a healthy weight and strengthen our muscles and bones, but a growing body of research suggests it can also significantly lower the risk of developing colon cancer and improve outcomes after colon cancer treatment.
Health care professionals have consistently found that people who are physically active are less likely to develop colon cancer than those who sit much of the day. In large population studies, higher levels of exercise have been linked with lower incidence of colon and other cancers, suggesting movement and reduced sedentary time help prevent the disease in the first place.
The biological and behavioral impact exercise has on reducing cancer risk
Exercise reduces inflammation, improves immune function and insulin sensitivity and helps regulate body weight — all factors that have been tied to cancer growth and development. These physical changes create a less hospitable environment for cancer to form in the colon. One study found that people who are more physically active have roughly a 20% to 30% lower risk of developing colon cancer compared to those who are less active.
Medical experts encourage people of all ages to aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week. Brisk walking, cycling and swimming are great, low-impact activities that can help you reach that threshold.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) states that physical activity can give you more energy to maintain your daily activities and provide additional physical and mental health benefits such as:
- strengthening your immune system
- reducing the side effects of treatment
- decreasing the chance of certain cancers coming back
- reducing fatigue
- increasing appetite
- decreasing depression and anxiety
- improving sleep
Exercise is also a proven way relieve stress, which is an important part of getting and staying well.
Why does exercise matter after colon cancer treatment? The benefits of exercise after chemotherapy
Following surgery and chemotherapy, cancer survivors face a higher risk of recurrence and early death compared to the general population. But new evidence suggests that staying active can change that outlook.
A 2025 study found that people with stage III colon cancer who engaged in a structured exercise program after completing chemotherapy had better long-term outcomes than those who did not. Over more than eight years of follow-up, participants in the exercise group had a 28% lower risk of cancer recurrence or a new cancer and 37% fewer deaths from any cause compared to those who received general health education.
The structured exercise programs in this study typically included moderate aerobic activity, such as walking, swimming or cycling and resistance training. Programs were personalized and supported by coaching to help participants gradually build and maintain activity levels.
Even simple routines — like walking for an hour each day — have been shown to produce tangible benefits. Researchers equate this level of activity with roughly 18 metabolic-equivalent (MET) hours per week. When colon cancer survivors reported this higher level of activity, their overall survival came closer to that of the average person of similar age and sex who never had cancer.
Generally, research suggests that physical activity after cancer treatment can reduce fatigue and enhance mental well-being.
Everyone is different, so the best level of exercise for you will depend on your situation. The goal is to exercise in a way that helps you maintain muscle strength and continue with your daily activities. The more active you are, the better you’ll be able to exercise and function.
Have a discussion with your primary care provider (PCP) about a tailored exercise plan that is right for you. You should not exercise above a moderate level of exertion without talking with your PCP, who can suggest tips to promote starting slow and incorporating certain movements into your exercise regimen based on your health history and stages of recovery, if you have had cancer before.
Related:
Photo credit: Getty Images
