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Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in Australia with almost 20,000 diagnoses and close to 3,500 deaths each year. That is a staggering 1 in 7 Australian men will be affected by prostate cancer, that is why PROmotion wants to shine the light on Prostate Cancer this September.
Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer may include:
Age (>50yr)
Family history
Poor diet
Sedentary exercise levels
Common treatments for prostate cancer include:
Radiation
Chemotherapy
Prostatectomy (if the cancer is still centrally located within prostate gland)
Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT- hormone treatment)
Why is it important to get moving during treatment and recovery?
As an adjunct therapy to reduce your symptoms
Lessen the side effects of radiation and drug therapies
Improve your psychological wellness and increase your survival rate
Exercise also helps to manage the effects of Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT). ADT stops the production of male hormones and as a result, the male may experience the following side effects: Reduced bone mineral densityLoss of muscle massIncreased fatigueIncrease cholesterol levelsIncreased depression and cognitive function.
The current recommendations for exercise during Prostate Cancer treatment from ESSA (Exercise Sports Science Australia) are:
Frequency: 3-5 times per week
Intensity: Work in between 13-15 on an RPE scale for aerobic activity. Resistance exercises include 6-8RM range to get most benefit
Type: All types of exercise are recommended for those undergoing prostate cancer treatments. Aerobic, resistance and flexibility / mobility exercises are vitally important.
Most importantly, resistance exercise helps to counteract those mentioned side-effects of the treatments, to maintain a healthy body weight, muscle mass, cardiovascular system and metabolic profile.
Time: 20-60 minutes of exercise per session
If you would like to start your exercise program during treatment or in recovery from Prostate Cancer our team of Accredited Exercise Physiologists can get you started. We have a number of options from one to one sessions or small group to suit all levels of strength and fitness. To get started contact admin on 9284 4405 or book online here for an initial assessment with one of our Exercise Physiologists.
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