Statement of the obvious for those of us who have experienced it first hand. I fail to understand why the MOs don't make it mandatory.
"TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) remains the cornerstone of treatment for advanced prostate cancer. In this study, the authors examined 229 men who underwent ADT and were without bone metastases or other factors precluding exercise. Patients underwent supervised exercise training twice weekly with body composition monitoring. In all, 19% of the patients had clinically significant fatigue. Fat mass was substantially higher in fatigued patients. Patients in the lowest quartile regarding reported vitality had the highest fat mass. Increase in lean mass was associated with increased vitality and decreased fatigue.
While this study may include selection bias, the results demonstrate the importance of physical fitness, both increased lean mass and decreased fat mass, in the setting of ADT. Physicians placing men on ADT may wish to counsel their patients on physical-fitness programs to promote overall well-being."
I am on Lupron and Zytiga. My workouts are about 1/2 of what they used to be. I tire after a 1.5 mile walk and after 8 sets of reps for chest and arms.
My issue with it is that exercise is not properly addressed clinically. Once a patient is diagnosed and on ADT, MOs have a responsibility to ask the patients to do some sort of exercise. I know from my experience, my first MO at MSK was sort of dismissive of it. I don’t get it.
The hard part is to not get discouraged if you are a regular gym rat. Prior to ADT, I had gone to the gym 6-7 days a week (5 days lifting weights) for 9 years. I had maintained my weight between 170-175 for 5 years and kept body fat to 11-13%. 6 months after starting treatment, most lifts are down 30-50%, I'm regularly fatigued, gained 32 lbs, and body fat is 23%. I've even cut my calories by 1,000-1,200 per day. I know keeping at it is essential for me (and frankly I don't feel good if I miss), but some days it is hard to keep a positive attitude.
It’s just hard to keep a positive attitude with PCa anyway. ‘Press on, regardless.’ And listen to the Funkadelics. I’m gonna be hearing that song all day now! 🤣
Consider sustained contraction exercises, which is basically isometrics. Very effective. Message me if you are not sure. I have expertise in this field and I am a doctor (retired)
Anyone out there use one of those Total Gym devices? Just a year or so ago I was hitting my Smith machine daily and walking 5 miles in the morning. I've lost so much and now the Smith machine workouts are no longer options for me. I do good to get a mile in today. This is where the decline stops though. Not dropping lower than this. The advertisements make the Total Gym look good but am hoping someone here has
Speaking of "squat"-if I could only do one exercise, it would be squats. Myriad benefits...
Crabcrusher
I do medium to heavy yard work, such as digging holes, filling holes, making new flowerbeds, moving heavy loads in the wheelbarrow, toting rocks, trimming bushes, etc., for two to three hours each day. Along with a keto diet, it helps keep my weight down, my fatigue lessened, and my outlook generally cheery.
Depression is worsening after finding out Mets are almost all over my bones. Until last year I was a long distance runner, both road and treadmill. In my last visit with oncologist, she said you cannot run any longer, your bone structure is greatly affected by mets. The most you can/should do now is walk, you don't want to trip down and fracture a bone. Walk, that's all. 😱
I feel with you, must be tough. I’m a (daily) runner, too. Did you get a DEXA scan with TBS or even better a three-dimensional CT scan. The first gives you your bone quantity, the second one the bone quality. Maybe your bones are in better shape than you think? At least it’s worth a try.
Thank you, I know you get me. And no, none of the test above have been done. My oncologist based on the PET scan and the supposed aggressive metastasis in most of my bone structure, including my face, seems to think the damage is extensive, she also gave my first Xgeva shot without telling me, again, convinced that my bones are very weak. I've said it before, I refuse a second or any subsequent Xgeva injections based of the nasty side effects that can occur. I am out of shape now (taking a Lupron shot every 4 months, Zytiga and Prednisone do not help much either) because I have not done any running since September of last year. I am convinced that I'll be able to start training again when the weather gets better and I am going to request that bone density test.
To be honest, your doctor should have organized these tests before making such bold statements. Maybe DEXA, TBS and QCT (that’s the name of the test which checks bone quality in three dimensions via CT) will confirm her statement, but maybe not. QCT is the best of the three and then you have certainty.
Did you consider chemo therapy or LU177 to manage the mets?
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