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I've been doing relatively significant resistance training (not like the guys at Venice beach but much more than the weekend warriors) since I was about 35 as well as swimming for aerobics and yoga for flexibility. Had to give up running around 50-55 due to knee issues. At present, I can lift about half of what I did before starting ADT, still swimming but it takes a bit longer and have been on and off with yoga because I come close to fainting when I stand up quickly from floor poses or poses where my head is below my knees. I also walk my dog 5K every day. Before ADT I was doing it in 40 minutes now it takes an hour but I still do it.
How do I go about finding a personal trainer with experience in cancer patients?
Replies to "I've been doing relatively significant resistance training (not like the guys at Venice beach but much..."
IMO it's not about how much you lift, it's more about do you get a thorough, safe workout where you walk away thinking "I'm spent." In my case over the course of two weekly training sessions we hit every muscle group, large and small, and do various body weight, balance, core, etc exercises. It's not "Arnold" level stuff but I take every set to within one or two reps of failure. That's as good as you can do and how much you lifted doesn't matter that much in terms of combatting the ADT side effects. With me, I just like being challenged and striving to improve.
I don't think you'll find a trainer specializing in PCa patients. However, and this is the one downside, it is not cheap, so most my trainer's clients are seasoned citizens who are more likely to have health issues. Out of the dozen or so clients my trainer has, one other is a man with PCa who is on ADT. Call some trainers and talk with them.
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In addition to the links I provided above, here’s a paper about the benefits of exercise to counteract the adverse effects of ADT —> https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2023/04000/resistance_exercise_training_increases_muscle_mass.2.aspx
I don’t run as much as I used to, but I still use an elliptical machine at the local gym - anything to keep things moving. At one point I enrolled in a water exercise class at the local Y - that form of resistance training helped keep the pressure off of the knees. Again, anything to keep things moving. No excuses.
Being a gym rat, I managed my own weightlifting and cardio regimen without the need for a personal trainer. Based on my tracking, along with a noticeable loss of muscle mass, I experienced an approximate 30% loss of strength. But, it never prevented me from engaging in any vigorous activities. As my strength dropped (due to the loss of testosterone), I had to reduce the weights I was lifting so as not to injure myself (muscles and joints) during that time. (Always listen to your body.) Setting expectations as to what’s possible while on ADT is important.
Despite being on Eligard at 65y, I pushed myself and swam in U.S. Masters and Senior Olympics events in my state in 2021. I didn’t make any world records(!), but I was competitive in my age bracket. More importantly, it kept me active and in shape while on Eligard. Never give up.
Just as most cancer centers have trained counselors to help men and their families get through the mental health aspect of prostate cancer, many have fitness programs to help men get through the physical and dietary aspects of prostate cancer and hormone therapy. Consider contacting them.