Encompass Health introduces enhanced support for Colorectal Cancer Patients.

Groundbreaking international research has revealed a powerful correlation between regular exercise and enhanced survival rates for colorectal cancer patients, Encompass Health Clinical Lead and St Georges Cancer Care Centre Medical Oncology Service Manager Tracey King said.

 She said in response to the findings, Encompass Health is thrilled to introduce a three-year structured exercise programme designed specifically to support improved survival rates for colorectal cancer patients. The initiative aims to support traditional cancer treatments.

Frank Frizelle, Professor of Colorectal Surgery at the University of Otago, Christchurch, said the Colon Health and Lifelong Exercise Change (CHALLENGE) trial shows the survival benefit from exercise seen in this study rivals that of many cancer drugs.

“It’s time we treated physical activity as part of the therapy, not just recovery,” Professor Frizelle said. “This landmark trial proves that regular, structured exercise after colon cancer treatment improves both lifespan and life quality.

“The CHALLENGE trial changes the game — it moves exercise from a recommendation to a treatment.”

Ms. King highlighted the importance of swiftly implementing a program that could deliver significant benefits for many families.

“The programme will support patient’s rehabilitation following conventional treatment. Patients who meet the criteria can be referred to us by their surgeon or oncologist.”

St Georges Cancer Care medical oncologist Michelle Vaughan agreed. She said the CHALLENGE trial was a landmark moment in cancer research.

“For the first time a structured exercise programme has been found to reduce the chance of cancer recurrence and death, in addition to conventional surgery and chemotherapy treatment.

“The benefit size of the exercise programme is very similar to the size of benefit from chemotherapy, but of course without the toxicity,” she said. 

Encompass Health is a joint venture between Cancer Society Southern and St George’s Cancer Care.

Cancer Society Southern CEO Nicola Coom said the society wanted to give all its clients the best possible support and introducing this new programme was an obvious extension to our services.

“We already offer counselling, dietary, physio and exercise advice for our clients through Encompass Health, and it seemed the best channel to offer this new service.”

“Colorectal cancer has some of the highest mortality rates in New Zealand and the further south we travel, the higher the number of people diagnosed with the cancer. We want to do everything we can to support the best outcomes possible,” Ms Coom said.

Professor Frizelle said this large, well-conducted randomised controlled trial followed 889 patients with stage 3 and high-risk stage 2 colon cancer who had completed surgery and chemotherapy. Those who participated in the three-year structured exercise program had a 5-year survival rate of 80.3%, compared to 73.7% in the control group who received education alone.

The findings, from researchers in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, were published in the New England Journal of Medicine on June 1, and presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.