By YASEMIN TALAT
RESEARCHERS at Victoria University are saying exercise could help patients combat the debilitating side effects of prostate cancer treatment.
Victoria University’s Institute for Sport, Exercise and Active Living researcher Dr Erik Hanson is leading a pair of studies on men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer to measure how muscles and the immune system respond to bouts of exercise.
Dr Hanson said people with cancer suffered both the disease itself and the side effects of treatment including loss of muscle mass and physical strength, weight gain, decreased immune system function, lethargy and depression.
“These side effects can combine to reduce the quality of life for many cancer patients leaving them feeling they’ve had all their strength and motivation sucked out of them,” Dr Hanson said.
“We want to use exercise as a potential means of slowing or reversing that process,” he said.
Dr Hanson said exercise could be a strong antidote for most, if not all, the side effects of prostate cancer treatment.
It is estimated that 120,000 Australian men are living with prostate cancer, and it is predicated that that number will increase to 267,000 by 2017.
Dr Hanson’s long term goal is to find strategies to help improve the quality of life for those living with prostate cancer.
Men between the ages of 40 and 85 years undergoing treatment for prostate cancer are invited to take part in the studies at Victoria University’s world-class research labs at the Footscray Park campus or at Sunshine Hospital’s Centre for Health Research and Education.
Trials will involve single bouts of exercise and tests to measure body composition, fitness, immune system response and muscle function.
Participants will be reimbursed for their participation and will also learn more about how their bodies respond to exercise.
If interested, contact Dr Erik Hanson on 99195614 or erik.hanson@vu.edu.au to discuss.
