Medscape: Walking May Ease Colorectal Cancer Fatigue

Medscape recently interviewed Louisa Liu, MD, a hematologist-oncologist at Cedars-Sinai, about the benefits of staying active during cancer recovery. She discussed study findings indicating that regular walking might help ease fatigue and enhance quality of life in patients with nonmetastatic colorectal cancer during the first two years after diagnosis.

Nearly 40% of long-term colorectal cancer survivors experience ongoing moderate to severe fatigue.

“Fatigue is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms our patients experience, often long after treatment ends,” said Liu, the study’s lead author.

Physical activity is widely recommended for cancer survivors, but its optimal timing and impact remain unclear.

“We still don’t fully understand when during recovery activity is most beneficial, what types of activity are best for different patients, or how these effects play out in real-world longitudinal settings, especially in colorectal cancer survivors,” she said.

Using data from 1,718 colorectal cancer patients, researchers tracked physical activity at the time of diagnosis and continuing for two years. They also measured fatigue and quality of life.

The study, presented at ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2026, found that among patients with nonmetastatic disease, those who regularly walked in the six to 12 months after diagnosis reported the most improvement in fatigue over time.

The study also found that maintaining higher activity levels through the first year after diagnosis was linked with better outcomes, suggesting short-term increases had little impact.

“When it comes to managing cancer-related fatigue, the key is to build steady, lasting habits that patients can stick with throughout their recovery,” Liu said.

Read the complete article from Medscape.