Oncology

A decade-long international study has demonstrated for the first time that a structured exercise program following colon cancer treatment reduces the risk of cancer recurrence, new cancers, and death more effectively than standard care alone. Presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the trial enrolled nearly 900 patients across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Canada, and Israel. Researchers found that patients who worked with personal trainers or health coaches to achieve exercise goals experienced a 28 percent lower risk of recurrent or new cancers and a 37 percent reduction in risk of death over eight years, compared with patients who received only a healthy lifestyle booklet.

A groundbreaking study from Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that older adults with cancer respond just as well as younger patients to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)—a class of life-saving cancer immunotherapy drugs. This promising discovery counters longstanding concerns that age-related immune system changes might reduce treatment effectiveness in elderly patients.

Comedian Katherine Ryan, 41, has provided her fans with a reassuring health update after undergoing a second surgery for melanoma. Just last week, Ryan revealed that doctors discovered a cancerous mole on her arm—the latest episode in her long battle with skin cancer. This marks her second experience with the potentially deadly condition, having previously had a melanoma removed when she was just 21.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, and early detection and treatment have significantly boosted survival rates. With five-year survival at 91% and ten-year survival at 85%, millions of women are now living as breast cancer survivors. However, new research published in Aging reveals that surviving breast cancer comes with a hidden cost: accelerated biological aging. This study, which introduces the concept of Phenotypic Age Acceleration (PAA), examines how both the characteristics of the tumor and the treatments administered may contribute to an increased rate of aging among survivors.