I'm interested in conversations about and I want to talk about
Know exactly what you want?
Show search

Notification

Error

Diet and fitness before prostatectomy

User
Posted 11 Oct 2025 at 19:57

Hi my name is Bea. My husband recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer. His treatment options include prostatectomy so I think that’s what we’re going for.

My questions are:

1. Pelvic floor exercises, pre surgery how often does it need to be done? Daily?

2. Diet. Any tips or advice on food that are helpful with prevention of cancer, spreading or reoccurrence and also he wants to lose his belly (his thin anywhere else).

3. Exercises. Any suggestions for pre op fitness routine that will help him lose a bit weight alongside the diet.

My husband is 63 years old. He has a mechanical heart valve. Otherwise fit and healthy.

Many many thanks guys

User
Posted 11 Oct 2025 at 22:57

Hi Bea,

Good luck to you both.  

My experience with pelvic floor exercises is they work very quickly but we're all different.  So I'd say it will be better to do it every day but after a couple of weeks or so I wouldn't get too hung up about it but do it at least every few days.

They say Prostate Cancer is worse with processed meat and red meat, ref Dr Scholz on YouTube.  Although there are other opinions.  My own preferences are that they say anti-oxidents keep the body calmer and tomatoes cooked in low fat oil such as olive or rapeseed are said to be pretty good.   Also to cut out saturated fat.  We seek out food with low saturated fat and have both lost a lot of weight.   A diet of oats and cooked tomatoes might not sound too good but I've always enjoyed muesli with nuts and dried fruit and there are a lot of tomato based foods, lentils or beans with tomatoes are common food with pasta or in soups and contain a wide range of nutrients.  Vitamin D is said to be good for the immune system and bones although there are opinions that complicate matters about taking large amounts or taking it with other things.   I watch Dr Geo on YouTube although to me he gets a bit carried away at times.  We're all different.

Exercise can reduce fat although eating the right amounts is better, many delude themselves about how much they eat.  If you have a lot of standard biscuits and cake it makes losing weight hard work.  It has to be a way of life. There is a video where Dr Geo interviews an Australian Professor about muscle helping with PCa with some research supporting it.  So having good muscles might help. 

YouTube has loads of videos on exercise.  If he's just starting he should be sure his doctor is happy with his heart condition.  I've recently had my wings clipped a bit by a diagnosis of osteoporosis although you can find ways round it so I still go to the gym but don't run as hard and avoid some exercises.

In conclusion read and watch videos, take advice and work something out.   A good physio or gym can give useful advice but the official doctor is really the only source of official information, good enough for an insurance company, in the UK.

Here is a video by Dr Geo, although I don't recall seeing it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y00Zid_1BI

Here is one of Dr Scholz's videos, although I don't recall seeing it.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UBHmXVYz-k

As a final point this forum is visible on Google and I've found my posts on diet get picked up by scammers who reply often adding dubious links.  So if anyone posts links check how long they've been on here and how many credible posts they've done.

All the best
Peter 

Edited by member 11 Oct 2025 at 23:21  | Reason: added links

User
Posted 12 Oct 2025 at 07:54

Hi again, Bea.

You say that your husband has a mechanical heart valve. I hope it doesn't, but just beware, that it may affect his suitability for RARP. During the operation you are put in the Trendelenburg position, where you're tilted with your head about 20 degrees lower than your feet. This exerts considerably more pressure on your heart. I had cardiac problems which almost precluded me from surgery. 

Edited by member 12 Oct 2025 at 09:12  | Reason: Typo

 
Forum Jump  
©2025 Prostate Cancer UK