Fitness Training Improves Fatigue in Prostate Cancer

Resistance training particularly effective

15 dec 2008-- Fitness training, particularly resistance training, can reduce fatigue and improve quality of life in men with prostate cancer undergoing radiation treatment, according to research published online Dec. 8 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Roanne J. Segal, M.D., from Ottawa Hospital Regional Cancer Center in Ontario, Canada, and colleagues randomly assigned 121 patients with prostate cancer undergoing radiotherapy with or without androgen deprivation therapy to usual care, resistance training or aerobic exercise.

The investigators found that both resistance training and aerobic exercise significantly reduced fatigue, as assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue scale, over the short term. Resistance training was more effective over the long term and significantly improved quality of life, aerobic fitness, upper- and lower-body strength, and triglycerides, the researchers report. Resistance training also prevented an increase in body fat, and aerobic exercise significantly improved aerobic fitness, the report indicates.

"In the short term, both resistance and aerobic exercise mitigated fatigue in men with prostate cancer receiving radiotherapy. Resistance exercise generated longer-term improvements and additional benefits for quality of life, strength, triglycerides and body fat," Segal and colleagues conclude. "Resistance and aerobic exercise training use should be considered as supportive care therapies to preserve quality of life and vigor in men undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer."