Welcome to the latest Series of Supportive Care Matters, a podcast hosted by Medical Oncologist and International Cancer Survivorship Expert, Professor Bogda Koczwara AM.
“If it were a pill, we would all want it.”
This powerful opening statement captures the essence of ground-breaking research that’s transforming our understanding of cancer survivorship care. The CHALLENGE Study has delivered what many considered impossible: definitive evidence that structured exercise significantly extends the lives of colorectal cancer survivors.
The results are nothing short of remarkable. Colorectal cancer patients who participated in a structured exercise program for three years after completing surgery and chemotherapy showed an 80% disease-free survival rate at five years, compared to 74% in those who received only health education materials. The results showed that structured exercise provides a significantly longer disease-free survival. Even more impressive, overall survival improved from 83% to 90% – a 37% decrease in risk. To put this in perspective, for every 14 patients who followed the exercise program, one additional life was saved.
What makes this intervention unique is its sophisticated approach to behaviour change. Participants received individualised exercise prescriptions targeting 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity weekly, combined with regular supervision and motivational support. Exercise physiologists conducted environmental scans to identify accessible opportunities, established accountability through regular check-ins and helped participants overcome barriers to physical activity. This wasn’t simply about telling people to exercise – it was about teaching them how to make sustainable lifestyle changes.
The implications for clinical practice are profound. To discuss this ground-breaking paper in detail, Professor Bogda Koczwara is joined by the Australian Principal Investigators – Professor Haryana Dhillon and Professor Janette Vardy.
This conversation is proudly produced by the Podcast Team at The Oncology Podcast, part of the Oncology Media Group Australia.
Host:
Bogda Koczwara AM
Professor Bogda Koczwara AM
Professor Bogda Koczwara AM is a medical oncologist and a senior staff specialist at the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer in Adelaide, Australia.
Professor Koczwara completed her oncology training at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York, USA, and received a Master in Bioethics degree from Monash University, Australia.
Her clinical interests revolve around management of breast cancer, cancer survivorship, psycho-oncology and supportive care as well as health services development, integration with primary care and cancer education for health care professionals.
Connect with Bogda on Twitter: @bogda_koczwara
Guests:
Professor Janette Vardy
Professor Janette Vardy is a Medical Oncologist, working as a clinician-researcher at the Concord Cancer Centre and The University of Sydney. She is the Director of the Sydney Cancer Survivorship Centre at the Concord Cancer Centre. With Professor Haryana Dhillon, she co-leads the Survivorship Research Group at the University of Sydney.
Connect with Janette on LinkedIn.
Professor Haryana Dhillon
Professor Haryana Dhillon is a behavioural scientist and psycho-oncologist at The University of Sydney, and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee at the Psycho-Oncology Cooperative Research Group. With Professor Janette Vardy, she co-leads the Survivorship Research Group at the University of Sydney.
Connect with Haryana on LinkedIn.
Resources:
PAPER:
Courneya KS, Vardy JL, O’Callaghan CJ, et al.. Structured Exercise after Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2025 Jul 3;393(1):13-25. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2502760. Epub 2025 Jun 1. PMID: 40450658. Access online here.
