Connect
← Return to Exercise as a Prostate Cancer treatment
Discussion
Exercise as a Prostate Cancer treatment
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Feb 7 11:14pm | Replies (65)Comment receiving replies
I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate what Newton is talking about into an exercise program suitable for me that I can do at home. I've been doing a mostly aerobic and stretching program for years, 30 minutes a day. Apparently, aerobic exercise may interfere with a patients best interests if he is on ADT.
When discussing an example of how he would design a personalized exercise program for a prostate cancer patient on ADT, Rob mentions aerobic exercise. This is in a youtube video entitled "Personalizing Exercise for Your Cancer Care". Around 17:05, Rob says this:
"We may limit the aerobic exercise or at least have it on separate days or different sessions here because in these patients on ADT... any aerobic exercise interferes with their capacity to grow muscle and also we will have extensive recovery strategies as well to support their training."
Replies to "I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate what Newton is talking about into an exercise..."
Interesting observation!
I asked a series of questions to find out why Newton says that and for whom he thinks aerobic exercise is best…you can see the questions and detailed answers here:
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/3b491cce-8131-4ae0-a4b4-f7324d409bc6
In summary, Newton’s view is based on evidence that ADT drastically accelerates muscle loss and frailty; therefore, maximizing resistance training is seen as essential to counteracting these effects. He says that aerobic exercise, when done alongside resistance training, for those on ADT, can reduce the muscle-building response that resistance exercise induces.
Newton’s approach does not rule out aerobic exercise entirely; but he highlights that it should not dominate or detract from resistance training, nor be performed during the same session, when on ADT.
Conversely, Newton indicates that for cancer patients who do not have concerns for severe muscle loss or the catabolic effects of aerobic exercise, it is valuable and often recommended to improve cardiovascular fitness, metabolic health, and immune function. Newton cites examples such as patients with early-stage cancers, or those who are not on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). He thinks they can benefit from a balanced exercise program that includes both aerobic and resistance training.
Well…it just goes to show you that even the use of exercise as a “natural means” of restoring health has to be tailored to the individual PCa patient. Just like when a patient selects an active treatment, there is no one exercise program that is best “across the board”.
As of today, I’ve focused my aerobic exercise efforts exclusively on running “Zone 2” (fully aerobic, slower pace), as I’m nursing a slight knee issue, which I don’t want to aggravate with the addition of HIIT….at least until my knee has fully recovered.
As far as strength training, I exclusively do multiple sets of push ups (never really enjoyed going to a gym)…but again….it’s what works for me…others will have to find what works for them.
All the best!
Connect
@climateguy you NEED aerobic exercise to offset the negative cardiac and metabolic effects of ADT. Sure, you need to maintain muscle tone and mass but you’re not entering a Mr Olympia contest!