Can exercise cure Prostate Cancer!

Rant away GWM

Perhaps men could take up riding bikes for long distances. It would keep you healthy eh.

Oh hang on, isn't there some doubt as to whether that causes testicular/prostate cancer ?

(or have I misunderstood that?)

Edited by member 06 Jan 2016 at 11:06  | Reason: Not specified

I am sorry to disagree here but the research is not a PhD study and is being conducted as quite a big study known as Pandera trial and is funded by Cancer Research UK. It is in its early stages but it is focused on those with localised early stage cancer to see if exercise can reduce the need to move onto surgery, RT etc. So I guess for those in watchful waiting or active surveillance. Early results have been encouraging and the media has picked up in this but this is a detailed funded study and not about getting an academic career advancement. It is such research that has brought us early chemo, abiterterone, enzalutimide and radium 223. That research has given those of us with advanced cancer some hope for prolonged life, it is good to see some research focused on early stage PCa so we should await its finding with interest not scepticism. This is not about what you did prior to a diagnosis as implied in the post.

Hi,

I have PCa, just finished 2 years Zoladex after Bracchy. Can only do about 4 hours clear thought a day because of extreme fatigue, and joint pain (like now). But that is not what I wanted to talk about right now. It is just to share the total agreement about hating the "blame the victim" syndrome. I have done a bit of digging into it I don't want to be political, but some research I have read says that it is associated with very right wing philosophies, going back to at least to Herbert Spencer, and still alive in the USA. 

Otto

Just a quickie to Mo,

I had a vasectomy in the early 70's and then a reversal op in 1978, am I at risk, was I at risk? I must have been as I have PCa.

Surely there is no research that suggests this, is there?

Cheers Chris/Woody

Life seems different upside down, take another viewpoint

This shows the difficult of interpreting research, it is always hedged with many caveats.

I had a vasectomy circa 1983 as a direct result of testicualr cancer, never been anywhere need an engineer, scared of motor bikes and only cycled as a child and after four years of hormone therapy not quite sure on the man front.

What can help us in understanding the benefits of research?

Size of study, generally the larger the better
Whether there is a control group, randomised control trials regarded as the gold standard
How research relates to other research in same field
Funded by reputable organisations e.g, cancer research UK
Ignore media representations and go to the actual research
International comparisons which confirm findings
Research methodology itself (though this is very technical and difficult to understand unless you a a researcher yourself)
The researchers themselves, who are they what are their credentials in research

It is complicated. We are human subjects and even with medical research ethics and morals can intervene.

Edited by member 07 Jan 2016 at 13:27  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Guys,

I love this thread, lots of exciting issues, research, and perceptions etc, a few more thoughts you might like.

FACT 1 : Let us start with the widely accepted fact that for PCa the number one risk factor is family history: 

Both of my grandfathers died of prostate cancer, or in one case 'blocked water' as it was known in those days.

However both lived well into their 80's.

I am fortunate to have memories of both of them who were alive during my childhood, they both drank, smoked and enjoyed life with a marvelous joi de vie I seek to emulate.

One was an engine driver in the days of steam, (LM&S) so lots of coal, steam, oil and soot in his envirornment.

The other was a gents hairdresser, so again lots of brilliantine and oils on his hands, he also served in the first world war, I have marvelous photos of his advanced regimental barber shop, it seems that in those days it was considered important to set up a barbers shop in a bell tent just behind the front line, so those guys going over the top would all meet their maker with a neat 'short back and sides'.

So to round up this rambble, they were both exposed to hazardous substances, like engine oil, smoke, alcohol etc, but they both lived to a ripe old age.

My father died in his 70's, from heart/cardio issues.  Which raises the question, did he have PCa?  Well it was never diagnosed, but with all of the heart isssues he maybe never noticed.

Certainlly my father, grandfathers all rode push bike, as indeed did I in my youth, I would ride for miles.  

But to put this into context, both my grandfathers had strong hearts, lungs and livers which outlasted their prostate glands, my father didn't.

ISSUE 2 : DOES EXERCISE HELP?

All of my predecessors led lives that were physically more active than mine, but PCa got most of them in the end?

At the time I had my first bout of radiotherapy, my Radiology Consultant (No Names on this website) was undertaking a research project.  He found that patients who got on with life and followed his instructions about taking regular exercise while receiving radiotherapy reported far less side effects than those who felt sorry for themselves and 'hid under a duvet'.

Now that suggests two alternative interpretations, firstly it might be the case that regular exercise, taken during radiotherapy, really does help and reduces the actual side effects.  OR and it is a big OR, those blokes who can actually be bothered to take extra exercise, are intrinsically more possitive, feel better about themselves, and are accordingly likely to make light of any side effects, comparered with those negative so ad so's who hide under the duvet?

So basically I haven't got a bloody clue?

But I know one thing, possitive thinking is beneficial, on the one hand it might be that enthusiastically following a reccomended regime of exercise might really minimise side effects, alternativelly it might be that the possitive frame of minf makes light of the side effects?

So in conclussion I know that at this time of year it isn't easy, on a cold, wet rainy day, it isn't easy to go out for a run, jog, walk or bike ride.  But I know that whenever I do I always feel better about myself and the PCa seems less of a problem. 

:)

Dave

Edited by member 08 Jan 2016 at 02:59  | Reason: Not specified