Effect of physical activity and body size on survival after diagnosis with colorectal cancer

Abstract

Background: Physical inactivity and obesity increase the risk of colorectal cancer but little is known about whether they influence prognosis after diagnosis. Methods: Incident cases of colorectal cancer were identified among participants of the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, a prospective cohort study of 41 528 Australians recruited from 1990 to 1994. Participants diagnosed with their first colorectal cancer between recruitment and 1 August 2002 were eligible. At the time of study entry, body measurements were taken and participants were interviewed about their physical activity. Information on tumour site and stage, treatments given, recurrences, and deaths were obtained from system..