Diet and Exercise for Colon Cancer Survivors: What the Latest Science Says

When you first get a cancer diagnosis, well-meaning family, friends, and even strangers might offer diet and exercise tips. But this advice can be more confusing than helpful. Fortunately, new research highlights two ways nutrition and physical activity can improve colon cancer outcomes.

Exercise for colon cancer survivors

Being physically active is crucial for your health, especially when you have cancer. “Regular exercise is so important for people with colon cancer, both during and after treatment. During treatment, people who stay active are much less tired and have fewer side effects from surgery, chemo, or radiation. After treatment, regular exercise helps people regain their strength and overall physical and mental health much faster than people who aren’t active,” said Suneel Kamath, MD, an American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) expert and gastrointestinal oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

New research shows that exercise might even increase survival for people with colon cancer. “Now we have evidence that regular exercise not only improves quality of life, but also helps prevent cancer recurrence and makes people live longer,” said Dr. Kamath.

The new study was presented at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting. The researchers found that colon cancer survivors who followed a structured exercise program had a lower risk of cancer coming back, new cancers developing, and death than people who did not. A structured exercise program is part of a physical activity plan guided by a trained professional.

“This remarkable study showed a dramatic reduction in colorectal cancer recurrence rates. It also showed that people who followed the structured exercise program lived much longer than those who got usual care,” said Dr. Kamath. “This happened because exercise prevented many colorectal cancer recurrences and deaths from the disease. So, it wasn’t just that people had better cardiovascular health.”

The study followed participants using a structured exercise program over 3 years. Participants were stage II and III colon cancer survivors who had recovered from surgery and finished chemo. They met with a physical activity consultant twice a month for the first 6 months. These sessions were meant to help patients make lasting changes to their behavior. They also had supervised exercise sessions where they chose an aerobic exercise to do. For example, they could walk, bike, or swim. The consultant gave each patient an “exercise prescription” based on what the person enjoyed. After 6 months, patients began meeting with their consultants once a month. The goal was to help patients keep up the changes in their physical activity.

“A structured exercise program doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be consistent,” said Dr. Kamath. “The exercises in the study didn’t need expensive equipment or anything fancy. It was about using the right technique, reaching the right level of intensity for 40 minutes at a time, and doing it consistently.”

Top foods for colon cancer survivors

Diet is another important part of good health during and after colon cancer treatment. “A healthy diet is the best way to get to a healthy weight,” said Dr. Kamath. “Obesity has been linked with causing colorectal cancer and increasing the risk of cancer coming back. A healthy diet also improves quality of life and makes people more fit and active.”

A different study presented at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting showed that one specific diet may benefit people with colon cancer: the anti-inflammatory diet. An anti-inflammatory diet includes healthy foods and avoids foods that can cause swelling or irritation inside your body.

The study looked at people with stage III colon cancer who had surgery to remove their cancer. The researchers found that eating a diet with fewer inflammatory foods, plus getting regular exercise, could lower the risk of death for some people with colon cancer.

“This study gives us another great reason to eat a healthy diet,” said Dr. Kamath. “The best part is the anti-inflammatory diet is very similar to a heart-healthy diet, like the Mediterranean diet. This means people can do things they already know about and get the additional benefits.”

Following an anti-inflammatory diet means consuming food and drinks such as:

• Leafy green vegetables, like spinach and lettuce
• Orange vegetables, like carrots and sweet potatoes
• Fruits, like berries and oranges
• Whole grains, like oats, brown rice, and quinoa
• Lean proteins, like fish and chicken
• Healthy fats, like olive oil, nuts, and avocados
• Coffee or tea, especially green tea

And avoiding (or having less of) foods and drinks such as:

• Red or processed meats, like bacon or sausage
• Sugar-sweetened foods and drinks, like candy and soda
• Processed foods, like chips and other packaged snacks
• White bread, pasta, and rice

The foods to avoid increase inflammation in the body, which can encourage cancer growth. “Inflammation can cause our cells to be more irritated or activated, and they can make mistakes in their DNA in that state,” said Dr. Kamath. “Cells that mutate too much become a cancer, so an anti-inflammatory diet protects the body against these processes.”

If you have questions about how your diet or exercise routine might affect you during or after colon cancer treatment, talk to your doctor or cancer care team. They can guide you toward helpful resources. They can also help you understand what might work best based on your situation, preferences, and the most recent diet and physical activity guidelines, like those from the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Kamath is a member of ASCO’s Patient Information Editorial Board.