Exercise as a Prostate Cancer treatment

Thanks for alerting me to Newton presentation in October. You can also hear him getting interviewed for nearly an hour on the Dr. Geo podcast, April 12, 2025. Very interesting! https://dr-geo-prostate-podcast.captivate.fm/episode/the-science-of-exercise-as-medicine-for-prostate-cancer-with-professor-robert-newton

This is great information. Thank you for taking the time to stay informed. It helps to have individuals such as yourself (and so many others) helping to educate and inform those of us who either are not sophisticated enough, time restricted, or even just confused and scared about answers to these and so many other questions.

I watched several Robert Newton videos in recent months to try to understand the "why" and "how" this type of weight lifting should be performed. What did I learn???

[1] I learned the primary "why" in terms of PCa benefits/protections is that heavy weight lift training causes muscles to release something called myokines. These evidently have PCa benefits.

[2] I learned the primary "how" involves the eccentric portion of weight lifting. The eccentric portion refers to the lowering phase of the weight lift movement and the ability to lower a disproportionately heavier weight amount compared to the concentric phase where the weight is raised. In most instances you'll likely need a partner during the workout to be able to place an emphasis on the heavier eccentric portions.

Thanks Jeff for this post!

You've hit upon a subject that is near and dear to my heart...quite literally 🙂

I follow Robert Newton's work (and several others) and have made exercise my primary form of PCa treatment. Let me state, up front, I fully understand the value of conventional treatments for other PCa men and completely support their decisions, as it pertains to their particular situations.

For me, after two years of implementing consistent, repetitive exercise medicine, the resulting evidence is overwhelming favorable (see my profile for my results). I'm not a physician (retired chemical engineer) so in no way is my testimony meant to be a "prescription" for other men with PCa.

That said, for those who are interested in this subject, I would refer them to Robert Newton (and others) who have studied this subject thoroughly.

I have mentioned VO2 Max in other posts, so I won't belabor the importance of this particular biomarker here; but I thought I'd attach my results and a chart of what the data show regarding VO2 Max of various aged men and all cause mortality.

I was diagnosed in mid-October 2023 and that is when I began my cardiovascular exercise program, in earnest. At that time my VO2 Max was 39.5....today my VO2 Max is 49.5....but I've got to go....this morning I have an appointment for my next dose of Zone 2 5K and follow-up HIIT training.......

What do you use to measure VO2 MAX?

I have the same question. I have a polar watch that does VO2 but obviously, that is not going to match professional testing. It may however, provide a rough guide as to improvement. I am interested in what others do.

My Garmin watch (Vivoactive 4) has an algorithm that calculates VO2 Max based on a host of variables that it monitors and your age and weight, which you input.

The “gold standard” for measuring VO2 Max uses a treadmill and a number of monitoring devices to which they hook you up in a lab setting. This is expensive and strenuous…I’ve never done this.

There may be differences between the lab derived number and the Garmin algorithm; but the most important factor is the observed trend, so the Garmin derived number is more than adequate to monitor trends.

There are several ways to determine your VO2 Max; without a Garmin watch or a lab visit.

The least strenuous method to estimate your VO2 max is to briskly WALK one mile, recording your time to do so (with stopwatch) and immediately determining your heart rate AFTER the brisk one mile walk; then inputting that data, along with your age and weight, into the calculator at the website below.
https://www.trainermetrics.com/fitness-assessment-calculations/vo2max-one-mile-walk/

Love that consistent upward trend in your VO2 Max scores. So very excellent.

Congratulations on your dedication and positive, encouraging results.

For those who may be interested:

I began running, somewhat sporadically, after I retired (at 66 y/o) in July 2022. On day one, I was barely able to jog once around the track, before I had to stop and walk.

In March 2023, I recorded one of my first 0.25 mile "sprints", achieving a 6:13/min pace for a 0.25. However, I averaged 182 bpm heart rate and my Garmin indicated a VO2 Max of 36.

After my October 2023 diagnosis, my running became more intentional, averaging ~9 miles/week. I always rest at least one day between sessions. In December 2023, I recorded the same pace 0.25 sprint with an average HR of 164 bmp and my Garmin indicated a VO2 Max of 42.

This morning (September 2025) I recorded the same paced 0.25 sprint with an average HR of 141 bpm and my Garmin indicates a VO2 max of 49.5.

I began "Zone 2" 5k's (with occasional Zone 2 10k's) in March 2025. This change has significantly improved my endurance and lowered my HR's. In fact, my resting heart rate is now ~50 bpm.

For those who don't know, "Zone 2" running is where you maintain ~70% of your maximum HR during the entire run. For me, that's maintaining a pace where my HR is between 125 - 135 bpm the entire time.

Bottom Line: My experience, with exercise medicine, is that it is a slow, incremental approach to improved fitness and vitality. Measurable results begin to be observed within months; but the full improvement impact is still ongoing after years...I've yet to hit my "top limit" after 3 years.

Hope this has been helpful to whomever is interested in anecdotal exercise medicine stories....

There’s a park with a track across the street from my house. I go there twice a day every day and run a mile in the morning and a mile in the afternoon. I guess that adds up to 14 miles a week. Because I’m on beta blockers my heart rate never gets above about 125.

I do the whole mile in less than 15 minutes as long as I’m taking electrolytes in the morning. If not it takes about 20 minutes because I have to walk about half the time instead of running. I am 77 so there is a limit how fast I can go. I’ve also had both knees and a hip replaced and it took me a while before I could even start running.

Doing this every day does clear ones head and makes it easier to do every time I go out there.