Two-thirds of bowel cancer patients aren't advised to exercise despite health benefits

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 (Wednesday) 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."

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For media enquiries contact Emily Head in the Cancer Research UK press office on 020 3469 6189 or, out of hours, on 07050 264 059. Notes to editor: 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 Please note, the research recorded the number of bowel cancer patients who remembered being given advice after their diagnosis. It did not measure the number of patients provided with advice in the clinic. * From the Living With and Beyond Bowel Cancer national survey commissioned by the UK Department of Health in 2013. ** 37 per cent of those aged under 55 years old, compared to 20 per cent of those aged 85 years old or over. *** 51 per cent of those who said they were given advice were doing at least some activity, compared to 42 per cent of those who didn't remember being given advice. Those who remembered being given advice were also more likely to meet recommended physical activity guidelines (25 per cent) compared with those who didn't remember being given advice (20 percent). For more information on physical activity guidelines: http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/fitness/pages/physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults.aspx About UCL (University College London) Founded in 1826, UCL was the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge, the first to admit students regardless of race, class, religion or gender, and the first to provide systematic teaching of law, architecture and medicine. We are among the world's top universities, as reflected by performance in a range of international rankings and tables. UCL currently has over 35,000 students from 150 countries and more than 11,000 staff. Our annual income is more than £1 billion. http://www.ucl.ac.uk | Follow us on Twitter @uclnews | Watch our YouTube channel YouTube.com/UCLTV About the Cross Cancer Out campaign Cancer Research UK has been running the 'Cross Cancer Out' campaign, which is calling for: 1. Continued support for campaigns to raise public awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer 2. A commitment to increase participation in the national bowel cancer screening programme 3. Equal access to innovative radiotherapy, surgery and effective cancer drugs, including drugs targeted to patients' tumours For more information, visit cruk.org/crosscancerout and join the conversation on twitter using #CrossCancerOut.

About Cancer Research UK Cancer Research UK is the world's leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research. Cancer Research UK's pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives. Cancer Research UK receives no government funding for its life-saving research. Every step it makes towards beating cancer relies on every pound donated. Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival rates in the UK double in the last forty years. Today, 2 in 4 people survive cancer. Cancer Research UK's ambition is to accelerate progress so that 3 in 4 people will survive cancer within the next 20 years. Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses. Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit http://www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.