HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

SRT w/ADT and Exercise

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/15/2019 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hey guys, hate to post again so soon. So, here is my question. My RO basically stated that I will have little to no restrictions during SRT/ADT. I was wondering if I could amp up my exercise? Currently, I walk about 1 hour per day at about 3.5 mph (moderate). I want to join a gym and do some more strenuous cardio (not overdue it), like an elliptical, and some weight training. I will talk to my RO next Friday, but would like to know some of the exercise experiences out there including the "when"......like if you had an exercise regimen, did you do it before your daily RT treatment or after your RT treatment for the day? Do you think the RT/ADT will take it's toll and I will not be able to amp it up?

Thanks.

J
Posted 8/15/2019 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Jay,

I had SRT done last year. I also had 7 months of ADT with the SRT sandwiched in between. As to your exercise question I’m a wannabe cyclist and when I mentioned this to my RO he was all for me to continue my biking routine during the treatments. I didn’t do any of my road biking last year but I still did almost daily spin classes which can get quite intense. What I noticed was that while on Lupron my power numbers on the bike were halved and once my Testosterone recovered my power numbers and endurance capability came back mostly to where they were before all the fun began last year.

In my unscientific opinion the exercise helped me get through the SRT/ADT mostly unscathed and as of now all is back to normal. Your mileage might vary but if your RO approves of your exercise regimen than I think you should try to do what you can and let your body tell you if you’re pushing too hard during the treatments.

And just to repeat your body will let you know if you’re pushing too hard so listen to it while you’re exercising!

Mike
Posted 8/15/2019 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
JayMot, I didn’t exercise as much as I should have, maybe once a week on average, but it was more out of laziness, I didn’t experience any fatigue that was noticeable, and was able to do whatever I wanted. Everyone is different
Posted 8/15/2019 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
Crazyick (Mike), thanks for the reply. Your signature did not state your PSA at SRT begin. What did it rise to when you finally decided to pull the trigger on SRT/HT? J
Posted 8/15/2019 6:58 PM (GMT 0)

JayMot said...
Crazyick (Mike), thanks for the reply. Your signature did not state your PSA at SRT begin. What did it rise to when you finally decided to pull the trigger on SRT/HT? J

My PSA did a slow rise from undetectable to <.180> when I decided to finally pull the trigger on SRT. It took approx. 69 months to get to <.180> which was in Dec of 2017. After my first Lupron shot (which was March of 2018) it dropped back down to undetectable on the standard PSA assay which was almost two months prior to my first radiation treatment. My last shot of Lupron began to wear off around the beginning of oct of last year and by December of last year my T had recovered to 287 with a corresponding ultra PSA reading of less than .014

As Prato just wrote we are all different and I got really lucky in that my T recovered really quick.

Mike
Posted 8/15/2019 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Crazyick (Mike), I was seriously thinking of waiting to for SRT/HT because of my slow PSA rise. I am only at .06 now. Based on my PSA velocity, I figured I may have gotten to about 6 years post RP, like you, if I waited to around .2 to pull the trigger on SRT/HT. But, from what I'm hearing, the call now-a-days is to hit this when you see a trend above .03. My RO said I could wait "for awhile", but he said he would recommend not waiting past 6 months. So, I figure I do it now while the PSA is low and PCa is hopefully local, and be off HT by early Spring 2020 and hopefully feeling good next summer. Thanks for the reply's and info. Wish me luck. J
Posted 8/15/2019 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
As far as exercise I was not warned about exercise, only about diet. I stuck very carefully to the diet prescribed though I did stray a few times by eating something fatty and got sick as a result. There were two other guys receiving RT when I did. We started at the same time. One of them wouldn't stick to a diet and suffered terribly. But he also would not quit smoking so I am sure that hurt him a lot, too.
I don't have an exercise program as I get plenty working on the farm. I took my RT in the winter when there is much less work but still kept up all my normal activities feeding horses, hauling wood, plowing the road, shoveling snow, no problems.
Posted 8/15/2019 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
Jay, I’m definitely wishing you luck with your ADT/SRT journey! I’ve read those same studies and I think you’re doing the right thing with pulling the trigger at your current psa level. In hindsight I should have pulled the trigger sooner but for reasons that have no logic behind them I waited till <.18>. Time will tell if I made a costly mistake with waiting. In the meantime I made it through the combined treatments of surgery/ADT/SRT without any real issues regarding side effects. I’m hoping you do just as well if not better than I!!

I just wanted to add to what Argent said regarding diet. My RO had me on a low residue diet during the radiation treatments which I followed to a tee! Be sure to follow whatever diet protocol your RO team proscribes!

Mike
Posted 8/15/2019 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
Jaymot,

I was also on 7 month ADT with SRT in between. I had no restrictions from my RO with regards to diet and exercise. I did give up coffee before my treatments each morning as it was easier on my bladder.

As far as exercise, my wife and I either walked 3 - 3.5 miles a day, or we bicycled 15 - 20 miles. I also did upper body workouts on my home gym, and tried to do 75 or so bent knee sit ups a day. I really did not notice any fatigue during my whole 7 months.

Keep us posted and keep the questions coming!
Posted 8/15/2019 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
JayMot this is one of the best publications I have come across on HT and prostate cancer.

Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer –
A Patient Guide
Urologic Oncology Program
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of California, San Francisco

Hopefully your on and off in 6 months and never look back! Keep walking as much as possible!!

Larry
Posted 8/16/2019 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
JayMot - Finished ART in June and there were no exercise restrictions by RO. about a week before I was done, I was doing a morning workout after 9:00am RT and just ran out of gas. I went home and took a nap which was longer than expected. I was generally more tired the last two weeks but only the one time did it affect a workout. Might be more noticeable if one was pushing themselves harder and with concurrent ADT.

You need to have a full bladder and empty colon for treatments so you will have to plan around your treatment time and see where exercise fits in best.
Posted 8/16/2019 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
I never quit exercising. it got challenging at times with all the treatment SEs and as my muscles were displaced with hormonal fat. but I never quit and have always exercised as an adult. I think weight training is a good idea (always) as well as cardio, but if you aren't used to weight training or strenuous cardio you could get injured or it could be a short-lived endeavor. easy does it. but definitely do it!
Posted 8/16/2019 1:09 AM (GMT 0)

Crazyick said...
Jay,

And just to repeat your body will let you know if you’re pushing too hard so listen to it while you’re exercising!

Mike

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnzwcnsswli
Posted 8/16/2019 9:36 AM (GMT 0)

F8 said...

Crazyick said...
Jay,

And just to repeat your body will let you know if you’re pushing too hard so listen to it while you’re exercising!

Mike

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnzwcnsswli

The next time I push too hard on the bike that will be playing in my head lol
Posted 8/16/2019 11:32 AM (GMT 0)
"Excess in all things." William Blake.

I try to push my limits every day. smile
Posted 8/16/2019 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
JayMot,
Lots of good advice from the "vets" on exercising while on the RT/ADT program. Physically and physiologically, it makes sense. You will loose muscle as your testosterone drops usually within 2 months no matter how much exercise you get and unless you are very focused on a low caloric diet, fat will start forming around the mid section where us guys like to store our extra weight.

One thing I would like to add regarding exercise which I think is quite often overlooked that can possibly save or extend your life. Get in the habit of short bursts of intensity into every excercise program daily. It's great that we go out for our daily 2 mile walk or 20 mile bike ride but without some sort of brief intensity during these active times on a regular basis, our cardio vascular system may not be able to with stand a high physical stress event like shoveling the side walk after being a couch potato for much of your adult life. Heart attacks and strokes kill a lot more older men than cancer.

It should be clear, however, that unless you are used to intense exercise during your regular workouts, get an OK from your doctor and start off slowly and only for short bursts at a time.

My last 3 month ADT shot was on Dec/15 and it has only been in the last month where my leg muscles don't burn when working hard at some sort of tough workout which is usually, mountain biking or hiking up in the mountains.

I hope to be back to normal around December, just at the start of the racing season for XC skiing.

Hope your road is not too rough.

Dave
Posted 8/16/2019 8:03 PM (GMT 0)

Hi JayMot,

A year ago, I did nine weeks of radiation --- 45 treatments.

I walk every evening, and have for years.

So --- wanting to help myself through radiation, I did this ---

After each treatment, I relaxed in the waiting room at the clinic for just a few minutes --- they usually had cold water and iced tea there.

From there, I drove right over to a nearby small lake with a GREAT walking trail --- 2 miles in distance.

Going on a walk afterwards helped me physically and mentally --- it gave me a DAILY goal, after each treatment --- I could look forward to my walk, instead of simply thinking about 45 treatments.

Doesn't matter what you do, or where you go --- go to the gym, walk in your neighborhood, take the dog for a walk ---

My doctor said the "fatigue factor" would hit --- I cruised through a lot of the treatments, but by the very end of the nine weeks, I could feel the fatigue.

Drink water --- take care of yourself --- set an earlier bedtime --- but yes, do walk each day ---

My doctor said the most important day to walk would ALWAYS be the days when I didn't feel like it, due to fatigue. Some moderate exercise will help BOOST energy, over time --- not a marathon, just a walk.

I did the same on weekends --- making my walk a part of my daily routine.

For me, going to the lake really was a nice diversion --- so, if you have a nice walking path nearby, a park, etc., mix it up and go for a walk --- and get plenty of sleep at night, to rebound for the next day.

Simple ideas that will help you navigate through treatments ---

Handshake, from across the miles,
CYCLONE ~ Iowa State University
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply