On World Cancer Day, February 4, we share an article recently published by researchers from ciTechCare in this area, entitled “Effectiveness of exercise training on cancer-related fatigue in colorectal cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials” (journal Supportive Care in Cancer).

 

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), colorectal cancer is the most incident and deadliest tumor in Portugal. In patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer, fatigue is one of the most common and disabling problems, affecting nearly 70% patients during chemotherapy treatment and lasting for several years after its end. This high prevalence, and its negative impact on patients’ quality of life, has led several oncology organizations to prioritize the research on effective supportive therapies in the clinical management of this problem.

 

The ciTechCare researchers concluded that exercise is an effective intervention in reducing fatigue in patients with colorectal cancer, particularly during chemotherapy treatment. These positive results may be mediated by several factors, namely the anti-inflammatory effect of physical exercise and its preventive effect on the loss of muscle mass resulting from chemotherapy toxicity in patients with colorectal cancer.