British doctor and former triathlon champion, Lucy Gossage, is calling for the introduction of physical exercise programmes for cancer patients after a ground-breaking new medical study backed her campaign highlighting its benefits.
For the 14-times IRONMAN champion, now an oncology consultant at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS, the findings issued in the New England Journal of Medicine, are a vindication for her many years advocating that exercise needs to be a part of the treatment process.
The CHALLENGE trial is the first published randomised controlled trial which has tested exercise in exactly the same way as drugs are tested, with Lucy describing it as a ‘turning point in cancer care’.
When setting up the Move Against Cancer group in Nottingham seven years ago, she was met with a chorus of scepticism as some colleagues argued that ‘people living with cancer won’t want to be told to exercise’.
Now this study has gone a long way to proving her belief that prescribed physical activity can help people to regain control, improve their health and reduce their risk of recurrence.
The 45-year-old, who continues to compete and win in the brutal world of ultrarunning, now wants immediate action as a result of the findings.
Definitive trial data
Writing in her latest medical blog, she said: “Some assume my background as a professional triathlete clouds my judgement. But after seven years I’ve witnessed first hand how movement can empower people physically, mentally, and emotionally.
“I’ve seen confidence grow, communities build and stories of hope and resilience emerge. Yet most people joining a group tell me no healthcare professional has ever encouraged them to exercise. Often, they’ve simply been told to rest.
“Observational studies have linked it to lower recurrence and better survival. For years, I’ve ended conference talks anticipating definitive trial data to confirm this. Now, that time has come.”
The CHALLENGE Trial took a sample of 889 people who had completed chemotherapy after bowel cancer surgery and gave one group a three-year, personalised exercise programme with the support of a personal trainer and the other a series of general health education materials that simply promoted exercise and nutrition.
Results showed that the risk of developing a cancer recurrence or a new cancer was 28% lower in the group given the exercise programme, while after eight years, the risk of dying from any cause was 37% lower in the same group.
“These benefits are huge. They’re of an equivalent magnitude to many of the drugs that we prescribe, many of which have horrible short and long-term side effects and are expensive,” added Lucy.
“For the first time ever, we now have definitive proof that we should be prescribing exercise, alongside our prescriptions for drugs and radiotherapy. Exercise isn’t just about feeling better. It’s about living longer.
“When I read the results, I felt deeply moved, not just as an oncologist, but as a co-founder of a movement built on belief. For years, we’ve relied on observational data, anecdotal evidence, and lived experience to argue that movement matters in cancer recovery.
“Through our Move Against Cancer community, I’ve watched exercise change lives yet I’ve simultaneously observed barriers from colleagues who aren’t willing, or perhaps don’t feel able, to discuss exercise with their patients. But now, that belief that movement matters is backed by a trial as rigorous as any drug study.”
And she hopes that those with the power to act, will do so now… and quickly.
The implications are profound
“The implications of this study are profound,” she said. “Exercise is not an optional extra. It has to become part of the treatment plan. If we had a pill with minimal side effects and low costs with these results, we’d be prescribing it tomorrow. Exercise must become a standard part of cancer care, alongside treatments like anti-cancer drugs and radiotherapy.
“We need exercise specialists integrated into cancer centres, discussions about physical activity starting at diagnosis, funding for community exercise programs, and national guidelines that reflect this evidence.
“Just as cardiac rehab supports heart patients in their recovery, we should create a similar model for cancer patients. Exercise is something patients can do, for themselves, at a time when so much feels out of their control. We need to support and empower them to harness its benefits in a way that works for them.”
