I am participating in an MSK study seeking to answer the question: "Will aerobic exercise change the biomarkers (signs of disease) found in the blood?" The study is supervised by MSK's exercise oncology department.
Details here: clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show...
They are evaluating three different cohorts including men with prostate cancer confined to the gland and on active surveillance.
It involves up to six 45-60 minute daily walking sessions per week for a year. They provide the treadmill, electronic tablet device, and a study kit that includes an activity tracker, heart rate monitor, blood pressure cuff, scale and glucose sensors. At the beginning, middle and end of the study I track what I eat with an app they provide and use a blood glucose monitor for two weeks. In addition to the daily exercise sessions, I go to MSK each month for blood samples.
The daily treadmill sessions are supervised by MSK exercise physiologists via Zoom. They start at a low level and build up in intensity each week through the year. I am continually blown away by the MSK staff. They are universally helpful, kind and smart.
Participants will not receive the results of any tests done during this study. Therefore, I continue to be followed by Dr. Ehdaie with twice a year PSA tests.
It feels good to be doing something to help myself while on AS and contributing to the knowledge about prostate cancer. Regardless of whether you are in a study like this, I believe the vigorous exercise can only help our overall health and ability to fight this disease.