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New research shows how colon cancer survivors can overcome mental hurdles to stick with long-term exercise—a shift in mindset that could lower their risk of the disease coming back and improve their chances of survival.

In a study tracking patients in a three-year structured exercise program, the results showed that because of the support they received, participants experienced a boost in confidence, enjoyment and motivation to make exercise part of their regular routine. The paper is published in the JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The findings reveal how to support survivors "in adopting and maintaining exercise over the long term," says University of Alberta researcher Dr. Kerry Courneya, lead author on the study.

The findings build on landmark research showing that structured exercise lowers the risk of recurrence and improves survival for colon cancer patients, emerging from the Colon Health and Life-Long Exercise Change (CHALLENGE) trial, the first Phase III clinical trial designed to test whether physical activity directly improves survival rates for colon cancer.

"The innovative aspect of this new study is that we were successfully able to keep patients exercising for the entire three-year period that was necessary to test this question," says Courneya, a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation and former Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Cancer.

"Short-term exercise adherence is fairly achievable in most studies, which typically span about 12 weeks, but longer-term adherence can be difficult to achieve in clinical trials and in real life."

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