In a nutshell
The authors aimed to determine the benefit of exercise before and after prostate cancer diagnosis and its effect on prostate cancer-specific mortality in men.
The authors concluded that men with non-metastatic (cancer that has not spread into surrounding organs) prostate cancer who exercised more after diagnosis had a lower risk of dying from prostate cancer.
Some background
Recreational exercise or physical activity has been associated with increased benefits in reducing prostate cancer-specific mortality in men with prostate cancer. Recreational exercise can include walking, jogging, cycling, dancing, etc. Further research is needed to determine the benefit of exercise before and after diagnosis in men with non-metastatic prostate cancer.
Methods & findings
The aim of this study was to determine the benefit of exercise before and after diagnosis of non-metastatic prostate cancer.
7,328 men were included in pre-diagnosis group 1 (at least 1 year before cancer diagnosis). 5,319 men were included in post-diagnosis group 2 (at least 1 year after cancer diagnosis). Follow-up in group 1 was 7.8 years in men who died from prostate cancer and 10.3 years in men who did not. Follow-up in group 2 was 3.8 years in men who died from prostate cancer and 6.5 years in men who did not.
73% of exercise was walking for both group 1 and 2. In group 1, men who exercised more than 17.5 hours a week compared to 3.5-8.75 hours significantly lowered the risk of prostate cancer death by 37%. This was only in men with low-risk cancer (confined to the prostate gland). In group 2, men who exercised more than 17.5 hours a week compared to 3.5-8.75 hours significantly lowered the risk of prostate cancer death by 31%. This did not differ based on the type of cancer.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that men with non-metastatic prostate cancer who exercised more after diagnosis had a lower risk of dying from prostate cancer. They also concluded that prostate cancer survivors should also adhere to exercise plans to improve outcomes.
Published By :
European Urology
Date :
Jul 12, 2017
