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Exercise Oncology...what say you?
Ran the July 4th Atlanta PeachTree 10K, along with 52,000 other participants.
What types of exercise, weekly regularity and for how long have you implemented additional exercise, since being diagnosed with PCa?
Have you observed any measurable benefits since implementing your post diagnosis exercise efforts?
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Yes, I hear you with the running. I tried running once I was out of the wheelchair, but it was more of a 1K shuffle, and even that was kind of a miracle (it wasn't certain I'd walk again at all after the tumour compressed my spine). For me, walking works much better. At first, 1,000 steps in a day would knock me out, but now I can do up to 15,000 on a good day (8,000 more typically). Combined with light weight training and chores around the house (gardening, snow clearing, yardwork), that keeps my heart and body in reasonably good shape while respecting my disability (I never got 100% back below my ribs).
Ditto for you with your knee. The important thing isn't to follow a rigid programme, but to stay active however we're able. Some trials (like ERASE that @handera mentioned) put participants on a fixed exercise programme, but that's not necessarily because there's something magic about that specific set of activities (other than the fact that it was high intensity); it's just to make sure they were comparing apples to apples with the trial results.
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2 ReactionsMaybe the reduction in seriousness of a cancer can be tied to fitness.
A body that is fit may have a better immune system and the ability to fight off cancer as well as other diseases.
There seems to be a significant difference in the higher level of exercise to lower level and that may indicate the higher level of exercise brings a higher level of fitness for the individual.
Not a medical professional at all but was reading between the lines as the research is not conclusive and thought huuum?
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2 ReactionsAlthough not as robust as the ERASE RCT, two large observational studies looked af walking and it’s correlation to slowing PCa progression.
The Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor (CaPSURE) Study (2011) and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (2011) are worth reviewing if interested.
Links below:
https://aacrjournals.org/cancerres/article/71/11/3889/657469/Physical-Activity-after-Diagnosis-and-Risk-of
https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2010.31.5226
Walking briskly for at least 3 hours per week appears to offer significant benefits, with a 57% lower progression rate in the CaPSURE study. Longer durations (e.g., ≥7 hours/week) at a brisk pace may further reduce risk.
Both studies consistently highlighted that brisk walking (≥3 mph) is more strongly associated with reduced prostate cancer progression than duration alone.
For example, the CaPSURE study found that walking duration without a brisk pace did not significantly reduce progression risk.
This suggests that intensity is a key factor, and simply increasing walking time at a leisurely pace may not yield the same benefits, if slowing progression is your goal.
Light, long duration walking may have other non PCa benefits; but these studies suggest that slowing PCa progression is not one of them.
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1 ReactionHigh intensity exercise has been linked to many cellular changes - increased mitochondria, elongated telomeres, etc…
But many PCa patients simply lack the ability - physically- to perform at these higher levels. Disability, age, arthritis, spinal issues all limit ones ability to take moderate exercise to the next level- SIMPLY CAN’T BE DONE!
Lucky are the few who can physically transform themselves in their mid 60’s and upward. Even luckier are those whose PCa is caught at a very early stage and can be monitored via AS. That wake-up call, combined with a body not yet debilitated by age or disability, gives them the unique chance to attempt to halt the progression of their PCa.
But we must never forget how clever these rogue cells are, and their ability to adapt to any change in their environment makes them a constant threat regardless of levels of PSA.
Phil
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1 ReactionI certainly can add more brisk walking to my exercise regimen… I already walk my dog multiple times a day… It would be easy to walk a mile or 2 at the health club after my lap swimming…
Thanks for the additional info..
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1 ReactionThanx, I got kind of lazy there...!
So basically does the same thing but without the side effects? If so, where do I sign up? LOL
As you indicate, the mechanisms as to why higher intensity exercise is so beneficial (be it brisk walking, running, swimming, cycling or whatever) is quite well understood and we’re learning more all the time….but I won’t go down that rabbit hole😉
To your main point, cold, raw science can be a merciless thing; with its programmed methods, definite protocols, “stubborn facts” and nuanced conclusions, couched in the numerical language of probability and statistics.
For the souls that are flat on their backs, in wheelchairs, using crutches or canes…all this “exercise talk” may sound irrelevant in their time of need.
That’s where the human touch and encouragement of a caring physician, family member, friend and this support group step in to provide the necessary motivation to press on.
…but it’s now estimated that 35 - 65% of PCa men are initially diagnosed with GG1 or GG1,, most without any noticeable symptoms.
The vast majority of these two groups should be directed to active surveillance.
IMHO the benefits of higher intensity exercise puts the emphasis on the “Active” portion of AS and has a much better set of side benefits over any other “treatment” these groups may be considering.
All the best!
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1 ReactionFair enough. I do what my body will let me. Given that the T3 spinal compression seriously damaged my sympathetic nervous system, intense exercise will never be an option for me again (my body can't cool itself properly any more, and I will faint if I overheat); it's kind-of a miracle that I can even walk and ride a bicycle again. My primary goal is to slow cancer progression, and Orgovyx and Erleada are doing an excellent job of that (the cancer has actually been stopped cold for almost 4 years). My secondary goal is to manage the side effects well and avoid co-morbidities like diabetes, bone-density/muscle loss, fatigue, heart disease, etc., and a healthy diet, moderate exercise, and resistance training are doing a great job of that.
There's no silver bullet — all of our bodies have different capabilities and responses — but systemic therapy (ADT+ARSI) together with lifestyle adjustments and early/aggressive treatment (I had debulking surgery to my spinal metastasis and radiation to both my spine and the prostate) are yielding huge improvements in long term survival for those of us with stage 4.
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4 ReactionsI'm gonna ask my doctor about Darryl. (Utamide)
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