Prostate cancer scheme gives men 'strength back'

Men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer say an exercise programme has helped them overcome fatigue, regain strength and improve their quality of life.

The free 24-week Cancer Activity Programme (CAP), offered by Nuffield Health in partnership with NHS trusts, supports men prescribed androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), used to slow prostate cancer growth.

Mike James, from Shirehampton, Bristol, said treatment left him feeling "weak and demoralised", but the programme helped him regain his strength.

The scheme follows findings from Sheffield Hallam University's STAMINA trial, which found supervised exercise, dietary advice and behavioural support improved quality of life and reduced fatigue.

"This cancer activity programme was absolutely fantastic for me and it's helped me get over my fatigue and get my strength back," James said.

Roughly 600,000 men in the UK are living with prostate cancer, a disease which affects the prostate gland under the bladder.

About 300,000 patients are prescribed ADT at some point in their treatment pathway to slow prostate cancer growth.

But the hormone treatment causes side effects like fatigue, weight gain and muscle loss, affecting quality of life.

James has been receiving ADT for the past two and a half years.

After having his prostate removed in May 2020, followed by seven weeks of radiotherapy, cancer treatments had left him feeling "weak and demoralised".

"I used to go for a walk and have sciatica all the time, arthritis in the knees. My missus had to do the lifting for me," said James.

"So to be able to get your personal energy back and your strength and be able to do what you used to do, it's fantastic."

The trial, delivered in partnership with the Sheffield Hallam University, the NHS and Nuffield Health, is described as the largest trial of its kind.

The study found that those who attended the programme had better cancer-specific outcomes, such as better quality of life, and reported less fatigue.

Following the success of the trial, Nuffield Health launched the Cancer Activity Programme in partnership with NHS trusts to provide a version of the STAMINA intervention to eligible NHS prostate cancer patients.

There are also plans to expand the programme to NHS breast and bowel cancer patients before 2030.

Steve Cottingham, from Frampton Cotterell, South Gloucestershire, said that as well as the physical benefits, it has been beneficial to talk to men with similar experiences.

"It can be a lonely journey with cancer," he said.

"It's great to talk with guys who are doing the same thing or at different stages of our illness. But hopefully, we're all coming out.

"Physically, it's helped me a great deal. I've lost weight, I've trimmed up the waist.

"It does give me fatigue, some of the treatment, and this has helped me a great deal."

Martin Sutherland, from Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2021, said he enjoyed the camaraderie he had built with the other men.

"You give each other strength and I think it's worked out really well, especially when you see them week in, week out.

"Coming here, meeting the lads, hearing their stories, sharing stories is the definite benefit."

Ethan Paul, a rehab specialist, said the sessions gave men the opportunity to open up while building strength and fitness.

"Because people are in the same boat, it gives everybody a chance to de-stress, let go of that stigma, let go of the fact that they might not necessarily feel as comfortable talking about these things with their friends at the pub.

"The difference in their attitude, their mental health and just the stories that they've reported back about how they've been feeling and the benefits that it's brought them has been the best thing."

"The importance of optimising quality of life for men with prostate cancer cannot be overstated," said Derek Rosario, chief investigator of STAMINA and consultant urological surgeon at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

"We've known for some time that programmed supervised exercise training can be beneficial in offsetting the side effects of ADT," he said, describing STAMINA as the "first lifestyle intervention integrated into routine cancer care at scale across the NHS in England".

He said the trial findings are a "huge step forward" and will have an immediate impact for patients.

The findings will also provide "compelling evidence for clinicians who have been crying out for an evidence-based intervention to recommend to their patients on ADT who present all the time with devastating treatment-related side effects," he said.

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