More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of bowel cancer patients say they weren't advised to exercise regularly after their diagnosis - despite evidence that brisk physical activity is linked to better survival in bowel cancer, according to a Cancer Research UK study published today in BMJ Open.
The research, from the Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre at UCL (University College London), is the largest study of its kind. More than 15,000 bowel cancer patients were asked about their current level of physical activity and whether they were advised to be more active after their diagnosis.
Only a third (31 per cent) of the patients questioned said that they were advised to do physical activity at any point during their treatment. Women, older patients and those from more deprived areas were less likely to say they received advice.
Patients who said they were given advice were more likely to be physically active than those who didn't recall being given this information.
More than a fifth (22 per cent) of bowel cancer patients surveyed did the recommended amount of physical activity a week (around two and a half hours), almost half of patients (45 per cent) did some exercise, but a third did none at all.
Lead author Dr Abi Fisher, senior researcher at the Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre at UCL, said: "Our research suggests that advice on being active isn't in place yet, but we believe this should become a part of bowel cancer care. Previous research has shown that doctors can increase their cancer patients' levels of activity by discussing exercise, but they need clear information to ensure this important advice becomes routine.
"We're keen to boost the number of health professionals promoting physical activity by finding simple but effective ways to give this important advice."
NHS guidelines for physical activity recommend that healthy people have at least two and a half hours of moderate physical activity a week.
Although there are no official clinical guidelines in the UK on giving bowel cancer patients advice on physical activity, several studies show that it is safe and beneficial for most patients.
For those recovering from bowel cancer, physical activity is linked to better survival and reduces the risk of cancer returning. It also reduces cancer-related fatigue, depression, anxiety and is linked to better quality of life for cancer patients.
Martin Ledwick, head cancer information nurse at Cancer Research UK, said: "There's evidence to show that exercise is beneficial and safe for cancer patients. And some studies show that it can even help to speed up recovery after treatment. Patients should discuss exercise with their doctor to make sure it's a safe option and to get advice on exercises to suit their lifestyle and ability."
Explore further: Older people at higher risk of emergency cancer diagnosis
More information: Fisher et al. Recall of physical activity advice was associated with higher levels of physical activity in colorectal cancer patients. BMJ Open. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006853
Journal reference: BMJ Open
Provided by Cancer Research UK
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More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of bowel cancer patients say they weren't advised to exercise regularly after their diagnosis - despite evidence that brisk physical activity is linked to better survival in bowel cancer, according to a Cancer Research UK study published today in BMJ Open.
The research, from the Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre at UCL (University College London), is the largest study of its kind. More than 15,000 bowel cancer patients were asked about their current level of physical activity and whether they were advised to be more active after their diagnosis.
Only a third (31 per cent) of the patients questioned said that they were advised to do physical activity at any point during their treatment. Women, older patients and those from more deprived areas were less likely to say they received advice.
Patients who said they were given advice were more likely to be physically active than those who didn't recall being given this information.
More than a fifth (22 per cent) of bowel cancer patients surveyed did the recommended amount of physical activity a week (around two and a half hours), almost half of patients (45 per cent) did some exercise, but a third did none at all.
Lead author Dr Abi Fisher, senior researcher at the Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre at UCL, said: "Our research suggests that advice on being active isn't in place yet, but we believe this should become a part of bowel cancer care. Previous research has shown that doctors can increase their cancer patients' levels of activity by discussing exercise, but they need clear information to ensure this important advice becomes routine.
"We're keen to boost the number of health professionals promoting physical activity by finding simple but effective ways to give this important advice."
NHS guidelines for physical activity recommend that healthy people have at least two and a half hours of moderate physical activity a week.
Although there are no official clinical guidelines in the UK on giving bowel cancer patients advice on physical activity, several studies show that it is safe and beneficial for most patients.
For those recovering from bowel cancer, physical activity is linked to better survival and reduces the risk of cancer returning. It also reduces cancer-related fatigue, depression, anxiety and is linked to better quality of life for cancer patients.
Martin Ledwick, head cancer information nurse at Cancer Research UK, said: "There's evidence to show that exercise is beneficial and safe for cancer patients. And some studies show that it can even help to speed up recovery after treatment. Patients should discuss exercise with their doctor to make sure it's a safe option and to get advice on exercises to suit their lifestyle and ability."
Explore further: Older people at higher risk of emergency cancer diagnosis
More information: Fisher et al. Recall of physical activity advice was associated with higher levels of physical activity in colorectal cancer patients. BMJ Open. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006853
Journal reference: BMJ Open
Provided by Cancer Research UK
Medical Xpress on facebook
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Older people at higher risk of emergency cancer diagnosis
People over 60 are at higher risk of being diagnosed with lung or bowel cancer as an emergency in hospital than younger people, according to a Cancer Research UK-supported report , published today by BMJ Open.
Physical activity benefits lung cancer patients and survivors
Exercise and physical activity should be considered as therapeutic options for lung cancer as they have been shown to reduce symptoms, increase exercise tolerance, improve quality of life, and potentially reduce length of ...
Study suggests exercise benefit for localised prostate cancer
Moderate physical activity appears to reduce death rates among men diagnosed with prostate cancer that hasn't spread, according to a 15-year study by Swedish researchers
Seeing the same doctor could affect time to cancer diagnosis
Whether or not patients see the same GP could affect how quickly bowel and lung cancers are diagnosed, according to a Cancer Research UK study led by University of Bristol researchers published in the British Jo ...
Cancer survivors need healthful lifestyle advice
(HealthDay)—Clinical interventions should be implemented to help cancer survivors make lifestyle behavior changes, according to research published online Feb. 13 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
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Capsule colonoscopy deemed 'adequate' alternative
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