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Exercise increases survivorship by as much as 61%
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) — A new study of men with prostate cancer finds that physical activity is associated with a lower risk of overall mortality and of death due to prostate cancer. The study appeared Wednesday in an advance online edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Prostate cancer is one big fear for aging men. It doesn’t get the PR that breast cancer receives but prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men (other than skin cancer). It is strongly age related. More than 65% of all diagnosed casse occur in men over 65. The odds for a man to get prostate cancer after age 65 is one in fifteen. After age 65, prostate cancer is the most common cancer for either men or women. Prostate cancer is racists as well. African-American men are 60 % more likely to get prostate cancer than caucasian men.
Under the radar
Despite it’s toll, you never see the panelists on the View wearing blue shoes to support prostate cancer research quite unlike the spectacle of professional football players during pink shoe month.
Exercise can help you survive prostate cancer!
Fortunately some research shows that men with prostate cancer can boost their odds with moderate to vigorous exercise like running, walking, swimming or biking for 90 minutes each week. There are benefits from even moderate levels of exercise in terms of increased survivorship but the best stats are from vigorous exercise. Moderate exercise can increase survivorship 46% while vigorous exercise increases 61%.
Even if you never get prostate cancer, exercise is beneficial
This study does not tell anything about the ability of exercise to reduce the development of prostate cancer but there is much evidence suppoting the general benefits of exercise for good health. This is just one more reason for aging men to incorporate exercise into their lifesyle as they age. I have so far been spared from this scourge but I am making exercise a part of my retirement lifestyle. If you suffer from prostate cancer or better have conquered it, is exercise part of your lifestyle?
No prostrate caner. I get the ol’ digital rectal exam yearly…ouch! And try to stay on top of this with Zinc and Saw Palmetto tablets.
You are right on about exercise…a must at any age. Besides increasing skeletal strength, one generates positive feelings, and mental mind states. Some of my best blog ideas have come to me while doing cardio and pumping iron at the Gym.
Hansi,
Way better to stay ahead of the problem than play catchup later. What kind of blog ideas do you get during the prostate feel-up?
Ralph…All my best material comes during the old anal probe. Probably have a post on that subject soon.
Bob…Somehow romance never comes into the equation during D R E time. The Hersey Highway, is not my way.
I can only hope that you don’t illustrate it.
Be careful Hansi…Ralph SAYS he’s married, but that last question of his might cast doubts. He DOES live practically next door to UCBerkley ya know…
It’s the same over here in the UK Ralph. Our National Health service screens all women for cervical cancer, but nothing is done about prostate cancer, until it’s too late.
If you live to a 100, all men will have developed prostate cancer, it’s just that we die of something else before the cancer can get us.
It’s the rubber gloves and anal probe that put men off, apart from Hansi obviously. 🙂 I take a PSA blood test every year. That gives an early warning sign.
If the blood test indicates any problems, it’s only then that I have to bend over.
John
Leamington Spa, England
John McNally@Blogging for Pleasure and Profit’s last Blog Post ..How to Enjoy Marathon Training
I’m not sure if the tests I get each year include the prostate screening. The high point of my exam is the anal probe. I look forward to Hansi’s illustrated report.
In the case that you should find yourself with prostate cancer, though, be sure to check out an alternative cancer treatment like proton therapy. There are often lower incidence rates of complications with this method, so you can get back to life more quickly. Plus staying active, of course!
exercise will help you survive many illnesses not just cancer.