Exercise

[Oct18]

I was wondering what exercise may be the best for apc. I do a small amount of weights but run about two or 3 miles a day, but it seems like most people on here lift weights more than anything. Any advice on what is best?

[Don_1213]

Need to know a bit more - what Gleason? Any therapy? Treatments? Drugs? Age, physical condition?

There is no one answer to the question as you asked it.

[Oct18 in reply to Don_1213]

I was diagnosed 4 months ago. Gleason 9, bone mets in pelvic, 2 in ribs and lower spine. I’m on lupron, zytiga and prednisone. I’ve always been physically active. I’m exercising more now than before. It helps with side effects. I’ll start radiation in April. I’ll be 47 in 2 days.

[NPfisherman in reply to Oct18]

I am 3 months in...I walk jog 3 miles nearly every day and lift 3-4 times per week...start out doing weights that you are comfortable with and doing multiple reps...I do sets of 15 or 20 and try to do a couple sets on each machine--I work on my upper body primarily since I walk/jog. After working at it for a few weeks, try and use the next plate up and continue that again for several weeks. Nalakrats has been lifting for years and could advise you better... if no one else chimes in, try doing that....do not injure yourself by starting out with too heavy of weights... good luck...

Fish

[Oct18 in reply to NPfisherman]

Thank you. I am meeting with a physical trainer soon and I’ll make sure to get someone with experience dealing with this

[Oct18 in reply to Oct18]

But all that sounds good and pretty much what I am doing

[NPfisherman in reply to Oct18]

Then you are on the right track most likely...good luck

[dorke in reply to Oct18]

I would say that any exercise that makes you feel good is good.

Personally I do weight and cardiovascular three times a week and swim for about 30 minutes twice a week.

If you are going to start radiation therapy, you should search Tall Allen posts in this forum.As far as I remember there a few of his posts emphasizing the importance of aerobics exercise during RT.

Good luck

[Oct18 in reply to dorke]

Will do, thank you!

[Schwah]

My MO (Dr Scholz) who many on this site respect is part of an office of 3 oncologists that do nothing but PC. They all say the same thing. Any exercise is better than none. But those that do weight training during treatment consistently do the best. The reason is obvious. With no testosterone our muscles tend to atrophy and we lose muscle mass and gain weight. I’m a pretty busy guy and all I do is hard hard weight work for about an hour twenty 3 days a week with a tough SOB trainer. Multiple reps to exhaustion as opposed to high weights. I’ve gotten stronger and have more muscle mass and a lower body fat than when I started. He pushes me so hard from station to station that I get plenty of cardio as my heart rate is in the 130s plus the entire time. It’s really really hard work and swear each time will be my last. But I’m there every time. I was scared to death of the side affects of lupron and Zytega and this regimen saved me for sure. I feel shockingly good. And the bonus is studies show a lower body fat can be very helpful in slowing the progression of your PC. Everyone is different but the guys here that work out hard seem to also do great.

Schwah

[Oct18 in reply to Schwah]

Ok, I think I’ll add more weights as long as I it seems to help. Thank you

[Hidden in reply to Schwah]

Hi Schwah,

Thank you very much!

Your post got me motivated to work out again, will call the personal trainer to start the schedule.

Been on Eligard, Zytiga/Prednisone for about 4 months now, gained 15 pounds, all in the mid section. Can only wear adidas training pants these days...

[joancarles]

I am 52 years old. diagnosed a year and a half ago My treatment is Zytiga. He was very active before the diagnosis. I currently have my own routine of walking 9 miles a day. I feel very well both physically and psychologically.

I have a lot of metastasis in the bones, I have not dared to do weights.

The truth that walking has helped me a lot to control fatigue.

[Oct18 in reply to joancarles]

All good information. I guess it’s whatever makes you feel the best, then do it. Whether it’s weights, running walking etc.... thanks

[Hidden in reply to Oct18]

That's the truth, whatever makes you feel the best to fight the beast. To me it's 3 miles a day at a brisk walk, just get off your arse and do something. You will sleep and feel better about yourself.

[Magnus1964]

I wish I could run 2 or 3 miles a day. It takes all I can do to get on the elliptical for 1/2 hour.

[Oct18 in reply to Magnus1964]

Elliptical is still good. Easier on the joints.

[Oct18]

Thank you, that’s my plan. I’ll make sure to get someone knowledgeable and can also help with my diet choices.

[smroush]

I have no idea what is best, but I do a lot of bicycling - over 3000 miles in 2018 and over 2500 for each of the last 4 years.

Hard to say how much it helps but I am doing much better than I expected at the time of diagnosis. I was diagnosed in July 2012 with a Gleason 9 with Mets to my bladder and pelvic lymph nodes. I spent 26 months on ADT (Lupron and Casodex), had external beam radiation and had kidney stents in for over 8 months to deal with a urinary blockage from the bladder tumor. My PSA dropped to undectable in February 2013 (about a month after the radiation therapy ended). It stayed undectable and I stopped ADT in October 2014. I have been off all meds since then and my PSA has been

holding steady at 0.2 for over 2 years.

Like I said, I have no idea how much of a factor the exercise has been. The other thing I have done is adopt a vegan diet with lots of foods that have some evidence of anti-cancer properties (e.g., cruciferous vegtibles, green tea, pomegranate, cooked tomato products, several herbs, curcumin).

The exercise and diet may or may not be helping, but both are very heart healthy and have no negative side effects.

Best of luck to you...

[Oct18 in reply to smroush]

Good to hear all of that. It’s basically what I’ve done except I run instead of bike. Ive been on a vegan diet for a few months with anti-cancer foods and herbs. Like you said, I don’t know if it’s going to make a difference but it is healthy and can’t hurt. Music is also big, I work out to positive uplifting songs. Also read scriptures on healing.

[Crabcrushe]

Tae Kwon Do has worked for me since '83 due to the emphasis on flexibility as well as aerobic/anaerobic benefits, with intensity easily controlled. Less boring, for me, than running (shuffling, in my case.)

[C-RI in reply to Crabcrushe]

I am avid TKD practitioner, will I be able to fully continue if I start ADT and chemo or radiation? Holding pads, sparring, etc?

[Crabcrushe in reply to C-RI]

No. Gotta be adaptive. I didn't anything but rest during chemo nadirs. Watched "Tales of Wells Fargo" whilst being attended to by Santa Maria Elena ( my gorgeous Wife). As you get closer to and immediately after the chemo lounge, you can go full blast (theoretically), but all I do now is Palgwe, rucks and stretching. Of late, deep breathing, as well. No interference from leuprolide for me, but this war strains each soldier differently.

[C-RI in reply to Crabcrushe]

Understood- thank you. Everyone here is incredibly helpful.

[Crabcrushe in reply to C-RI]

I truly despise this tablet. I apologize.

Depending on motivation, the chemo nadir should be the only days you won't train.

Charlie

[C-RI in reply to Crabcrushe]

I got ya. I’ll be brushing up on my taegeuk and stretching when I can.

[Crabcrushe in reply to C-RI]

Watch Grand Master Park do Palgwe One on you tube while you're couchin' during nadirs, and you"'ll stay fired up. Make sure the palliative Doc gives you some Atavan, too. Trust me.

Crabcrusher

[C-RI]

Yeah - I’m a chill guy, but not working out bugs me - on top of this anxiety. Thanks for tip.

[Moespy]

I bought a fan bike about a month ago; Sunny Health & Fitness Tornado Model on Amazon (amazon.com/Sunny-Health-Fit.... The machine provides cardio and resistance to arms and legs. I am up to an hour and I find it tolerable watching TV. I also walk the dogs 2-3 miles daily and hike trails in warm weather (live in Maryland). Hopefully this will do the trick to keep the fatigue a bay.

Best wishes,

Jim