{"id":889792,"date":"2026-09-09T23:26:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T23:26:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/889792\/"},"modified":"2026-09-09T23:26:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T23:26:11","slug":"prostate-cancer-exercise-program-reduces-treatment-side-effects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/889792\/","title":{"rendered":"Prostate Cancer: Exercise Program Reduces Treatment Side Effects"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"OlderShare on Pinterest<\/a>An enhanced diet and exercise program may support men during prostate cancer treatment, according to a new study. Maki Nakamura\/DigitalVision\/Getty ImagesResearchers say a monitored program of diet, exercise, and behavioral support may improve prostate cancer treatment outcomes.The scientists reported that men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer who followed the lifestyle regimen known as STAMINA experienced improved quality of life.Experts say a healthy lifestyle regimen that includes a balanced diet and regular exercise can be beneficial for those with cancer.<\/p>\n

An enhanced diet and exercise program may improve quality of life for men undergoing a common prostate cancer treatment.<\/p>\n

The researchers added the STAMINA regimen of regular exercise<\/a>, dietary advice, and behavioral support, which also proved to be cost-effective.<\/p>\n

The study\u2019s successful result spurred<\/a> Nuffield Health, which participated in the research, to launch a new cancer activity program to make a version of STAMINA available for men with prostate cancer.<\/p>\n

Nuffield Health plans to expand the program to breast and bowel cancer in 50,000 medical facilities by 2030. The study findings were published on September 4 in The Lancet Oncology<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe STAMINA lifestyle intervention meets best practice guidelines, can be implemented in NHS [National Health Service] trusts in England, and offers clinicians a clear basis for identification and prescription of a supervised exercise and dietary advice intervention to mitigate negative effects associated with ADT,\u201d the study authors wrote.<\/p>\n

Ying Wang<\/a>, PhD, a senior principal scientist with the Department of Population Science at the American Cancer Society, said the new study provides some important insights. Wang wasn\u2019t involved in the study.<\/p>\n

\u201cMuch of the research in this area has focused on breast cancer survivors, so strong trial evidence that a structured lifestyle program improves quality of life and reduces fatigue specifically among men receiving ADT is especially valuable,\u201d Wang told Healthline.<\/p>\n

The STAMINA<\/a> program was a five-year research project funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n

It was designed around pre-existing research recommendations to assess the long-term impact of supervised exercise training on both quality of life and fatigue in men on androgen deprivation therapy.<\/p>\n

It is often combined with other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. ADT is administered through medications that reduce androgen levels.\u201d<\/p>\n

The potential side effects of ADT include:<\/p>\n

low sex driveerectile dysfunctionloss of bone densityfatiguemood changes<\/p>\n

The researchers said they conducted their study to \u201cdetermine whether the STAMINA lifestyle intervention, embedded into cancer care, would improve cancer-specific quality of life and fatigue.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the study, the researchers monitored 700 men who were receiving ADT for prostate cancer at 15 National Health Service (NHS) facilities in England. The median age of the participants was 71, and 97% of them were white.<\/p>\n

The participants were randomly assigned to two separate groups between January 2022 and January 2023. Follow-up examinations were conducted through June 2024.<\/p>\n

One group received a combination of supervised aerobic and resistance exercise along with dietary advice and behavioral support from the STAMINA program. The other group received a more standard supplementary treatment program.<\/p>\n

The researchers reported that more than 80% of participants in the STAMINA group attended their scheduled sessions over the 12-month trial period.<\/p>\n

They added that participants who attended the program had better cancer-specific outcomes, including better quality of life, and reported less fatigue than men who received standard care.<\/p>\n

The long-term effects on prostate cancer survival, however, are not yet understood.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe study does not establish whether these benefits translate into longer survival because it assessed quality of life and fatigue over 12 months rather than cancer outcomes,\u201d Wang said.<\/p>\n

S. Adam Ramin<\/a>, MD, a urologist, urologic oncologist, and medical director of Urology Cancer Specialists in Los Angeles, says lifestyle modifications can yield significant benefits for men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. Ramin wasn\u2019t involved in the study.<\/p>\n

He said a diet that \u201cemphasizes leafy greens<\/a>, legumes, and healthy fats<\/a> \u2014 not red meat \u2014 supports a healthier prostate, and this study supports<\/a> the consumption of healthy fats for potentially longer survival after a prostate cancer diagnosis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ramin added that regular exercise can also boost prostate health.<\/p>\n

\u201cRegular exercise promotes a healthier lifestyle and can reduce mental stress,\u201d he told Healthline. \u201cExercise releases endorphins<\/a> (chemicals produced by the nervous system<\/a> that help the body cope with pain and stress) into the bloodstream, which positively affect overall health \u2014 both physical and mental.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wang noted that the American Cancer Society\u2019s prostate cancer survivorship guidelines<\/a> recommend at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, such as brisk walking<\/a>, together with resistance training<\/a> and a healthy diet<\/a> rich in fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe physiological rationale for exercise and healthy eating is strong and supported by broader survivorship evidence,\u201d Wang said, adding that coaching and consultation are important post-cancer tools. \u201cA key lesson from STAMINA is that information alone may not be sufficient,\u201d she explained. <\/p>\n

\u201cBoth study groups received education, clinician encouragement, and behavioral prompts. The additional benefit observed with supervised exercise, ongoing coaching, and structured program delivery suggests that helping patients translate recommendations into sustained action may be as important as the recommendations themselves,\u201d Wang continued.<\/p>\n

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates<\/a> there will be more than 330,000 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States in 2026, with more than 36,000 deaths from the disease.<\/p>\n

The organization notes that prostate cancer cases increased<\/a> about 3% per year between 2014 and 2022, with the steepest rise occurring in advanced-stage diagnoses.<\/p>\n

According to the ACS, the increase in diagnoses is largely due to more men being screened for the disease. The organization also notes that Black males have a higher incidence<\/a> of prostate cancer than white males.<\/p>\n

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer<\/a> in males. It occurs when malignant cells form a tumor in the prostate gland<\/a>, which can then spread to other parts of the body.<\/p>\n

The risk factors for prostate cancer include:<\/p>\n

being over the age of 50having a family history of the diseaseobesity<\/p>\n

Some forms of prostate cancer don\u2019t produce early symptoms. Advanced stages of the disease can produce symptoms that include:<\/p>\n

frequent need to urinatea weak or slow urine streambleeding while urinatingerectile dysfunctionpain or numbness in the legs and feet<\/p>\n

Prostate cancer can be detected through screening with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA<\/a>) blood test or a digital rectal exam (DRE). Imaging tests, such as an MRI or ultrasound, along with a biopsy, are used for diagnosis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Treatments for prostate cancer include:<\/p>\n

Ramin said that a person\u2019s outlook on life during cancer treatment can make a big difference.<\/p>\n

\u201cProstate cancer and its treatments can be emotionally challenging. Consider joining a support group for men who have undergone similar experiences. Talking with a therapist may also be beneficial in managing stress and anxiety<\/a> post-treatment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Ramin said that a positive outlook can help improve prostate cancer recovery and overall well-being. <\/p>\n

\u201cFocus on the positive aspects of life and celebrate milestones. Connect with loved ones for support and motivation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Share on PinterestAn enhanced diet and exercise program may support men during prostate cancer treatment, according to a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":889793,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[49,48,407,84],"class_list":["post-889792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fitness","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-fitness","tag-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/889792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=889792"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/889792\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/889793"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=889792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=889792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=889792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}