Can lack of exercise raise PSA?

[HopingForTheBest1]

Since COVID began and gyms closed, I have had a lot less exercise. I had been going 3-4 times each week at least 1 hour each time, with cardio and weight machines. Now it has been walking around the neighborhood up to a mile 4-5 times each week with less intensity.

My PSA has since been rising in last 3 months from undetectable to 0.02, 0.05, 0.14, 0.35. One oncologist told me that ramping back up exercise would definitely lower it.

Is it that simple? My recent scans appeared clean, although annoying side effects are increasing. More than likely from ongoing med use (Olaparib, Eligard, Xgeva) for the past 1 1/2 - 2 years, combined with ageing (65).

[LearnAll]

I do not know if exercise directly lowers PSA or not. But, Exercise certainly has positive effect on overall and cancer specific survival. There was a study from Poland (if I remember correctly) where prostate cancer patients were divided into two groups...one group will play soccer daily for 45 minutes and other group did not play soccer. They were followed for long time and it was found that ones who played soccer lived longer and did better on all other clinical parameters of progression free survival.

[Tall_Allen]

I've never seen a study showing it improves PSA.

[Kaliber]

The brains Here like learnall and Tall_allen Have the technical knowledge . I think I can say that if you are on adt and expressing going to the gym and 5 miles worth walking, then count your lucky stars and keep at it. Even slip in a little extra now and then. You are lucky , and good for you. A few of us experience strong SEs from adt .... heck I can’t even walk 40 - 50 feet and even then risk stroke or heart attack. Adt has destabilized nearly all of my biologicals ... when I walk just 50’ my bp jumps to 215 / 120 minimum instantly, plus can’t breathe, huffing and puffing , shuffling my feet , bent over etc.

The point being, you are among the fortunate ones that , on adt , are still able and fit and can lead a nearly normal life .... stick with that exercise and fitness , I think it will benefit you immensely, well into the future.

Best wishes brother 💪💪💪✌️✌️✌️

[HopingForTheBest1 in reply to Kaliber]

Wow. Thanks so much. You have definitely opened my eyes as to how lucky I am.

[Tommyj2 in reply to Kaliber]

It still perplexes me that there can be SUCH variation in the response to these medications....people with No side effects ,and people with side effects so pronounced that QOL is barely discernible!! Anyone aware of any studies that posit why this might be?? Age? Condition prior to going ON ADT....other disease states??? I am aware that people differ biologically but one would think that the immense difference could be explainable in SOME way

[treedown in reply to Tommyj2]

Agreed.

[Kaliber in reply to Tommyj2]

It’s Inexplicable yayahahahaya. From what I can tell, only about 6% - 8% , maybe a bit more ... get the really bad side effects ... lucky me. Frankly , as long as my psa stays undetectable I’m good with it ... long as I don’t get a stroke or heart attack. I find “ workarounds “ and other ways to cope .

Maybe I can’t walk much but I still like to go for walks with my wife and hit the hike and bike trails anyway. My workaround is a e-trike I had modified for both zooming down the complex of local trails ( wind in my hair , kinda like a motor scooter ) and also very slow for accompanying my wife out for walks or someone running ..... and shopping in stores too. We can go for a walk, hold hands .... enjoy the outdoors .. kinda just like always ( 44 years ) ... no biggie. I can zoom up to the corner and throw a couple switches and drive around inside the supermarket shopping , nolo problemo.

The e-trike is a three wheeled e-bike set to class three operation to qualify for the Pedestrian trails. I had to sell my Harley Dyna Super glide , I call this trike my “ Hardly “. The trike can do a sustained 16 - 18 mph and travel over 34 miles , even with big ole me on it. Its basically an electric moped ...even looks like one. Workarounds are what helps keep up the QOL in the face of adversity. Ain’t nutt’in to it.

💪💪💪👍👍👍🌸❤️🦋🌻🌼

[Tommyj2 in reply to Kaliber]

Great attitude.... I don’t know that I would be able to look so “ kindly” upon my luck were I to have your SE’s. Then again.... I can’t afford a “ Hardly” : )

[Kaliber in reply to Tommyj2]

They don’t “ hardly “ cost much ! Like Clint Eastwood said “ a mans got to learn to manage his limitations “ . After I sold my Harley, I had the money to buy several Hardlys yayahahahaya Thank you brother. Good luck to you on this journey too.

💪💪💪👍👍👍

[Hidden]

So if an oncologist told you that that ramping back up exercise would definitely lower your PSA, try it. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose, your playing with house money. I run 4 miles, 4 times a week and lift weights the other 3. I'm 70 and still manage to get through it all.

[HopingForTheBest1 in reply to Hidden]

I will absolutely ramp it up, especially now that my gym in NJ has reopened as of Sept 8. Have been there almost every day. Just a handful have come back so far.

[Tommyj2 in reply to Hidden]

What “ objective” good has the running and weight lifting done for you all in all?? I am yet to start ADT and collecting as much positive information as I can to prepare myself for the challenges being on this medicine will bring... I live alone and being debilitated by ADT will cause quite a bit of hardship as I have no one to pick up the slack.... I am going on 69 and currently still quite functional apart from appreciable arthritis.....thanks for any info you can offer.

[Hidden]

What what a good focus for a clinical trial - but who would benefit enough to fund it 🤷🏻‍♀️. Please go back to lifting weights at home 🤞🏻 and let us know how you feel. Maybe your PSA will decrease and maybe you will just feel better.

Please update - love hearing good news !

[TheBrain56]

I, like Kaliber, cannot walk further than 100 metres before exhaustion sets in most days. I'm in Melbourne Australia that is in EXTREME lockdown at the minute so exercising at a gym is not possible - if I could.

I have just joined a study from the Uni of Sth Aust targetted at metastatic PC individuals and giving you resistant & aerobic tasks specifically designed for your personal PC situation. Only just started this week on the "fact finding" side of things so it will be interesting to see what does occur in months to come.

I'm currently taking Enzalutamide daily with a 3 monthly Zoladex injection to reduce my PSA (down from 86 in Feb 19 to 0.36 2 weeks ago) and keep the demons away.

Enjoy what you can at this time.

Best of luck to you

[Kaliber in reply to TheBrain56]

Amen brother 💪💪💪👍👍👍

[HopingForTheBest1]

Found this article about the benefits of exercise in women with breast cancer. So why not men too?

cancer.gov/news-events/canc...

[NecessarilySo]

Maybe increased oxygen in blood kills or slows down cancer cells.

[wagscure259]

Just reporting that I know of no such study which correlates PSA progression and exercise performance. My MSK MO has responded to my queries regarding this correlation and he does not believe there is one and knows of no studies specifically in that regard. I work out 1 1/2 hours daily 6-7 days a week with a vigorous HIIT program with weights one day and a strength training day to follow and the past four months my PSA has risen from .05 to .12.

[Tommyj2 in reply to wagscure259]

Has this regimen helped you to maintain muscle mass and tone or does it just make you feel better ( ideally...both)...

[wagscure259 in reply to Tommyj2]

Surprisingly with an ultra sensitive testosterone level of 9 ng/dL ( after over 7 1/2 years of ADT) I have been able to increase functional muscle strength ( no longer having difficulty getting off a low couch at bedtime) as well as demonstrating hypertrophy in all groups and I’ve lost 6 pounds of adipose over the past 4 months. This is being done at home with dumbbells although it is an intense exercise program. Once a vaccine is available I will return to the gym for the strength training aspect of my program. This is , for me, a QOL issue and I have no expectations regarding my systemic disease process but I am hopeful it will aid in my survival.

[Tommyj2 in reply to wagscure259]

What kind of weight are you using with the Dumbell program??... Do you do this every day?? I have not yet started ADT but anticipate that it will not be long before my doubling time slows to the point that I have to start..... I am desperate to do anything I can to maintain as much muscle strength and tone as I can during this process..... I liv e alone and cannot afford to have my daily activities of living impaired... I’ve read posts here from men who are “ gym rats” who have managed to actually build muscle on ADT ( you suggest that you as well have had some increase)....I would just like to maintain what I have..... Is your workout program “prescribed” by a trainer or one that you have devised yourself ( you mention HIIT...what is that? ) thanks for anything you care to share..... I am quite nervous about ADT....

[wagscure259 in reply to Tommyj2]

PM me and I will point you in the right direction. I did not need a personal trainer as I am a retired physical therapist and also trained athletes for years.

[gfarns in reply to wagscure259]

Can you describe your workout program that you recommend. I'm 74 and on ADT fro 18 months so far. I'm motivated to be in the best condition I can. Thanks in advance Geoff

[treedown in reply to wagscure259]

I read about a clinical trial addressing it but that was maybe 8 or 9 months ago on the national database. Don't remember much more about it then extreme exercise.