By Dayne Hudson
Are you or is someone you know suffering from prostate cancer?
Well there's some good news amongst plenty of bad - you'll still be able to have sex if you keeping pumping iron.
We're told that one in six men will at some stage be diagnosed with the disease.
After the bad news, men start treatment via anti-androgens which lower testosterone; puting a large kink in the armour of the bits of prostate cancer that are sensitive to testosterone.
During this period, men will lose muscle mass and gain fat.
HOW MUCH MUSCLE DO THEY LOSE & FAT THEY GAIN?
Recent research tracked men taking anti-androgens for 33 months, and found they dropped 1.3kg of muscle and gained 2.3kg of fat (1).
But here's some good news - men can help maintain their muscle mass if strength and cardio training is performed, and EVEN if the cancer has spread to the bones (2).
Furthermore, after beginning anti-androgen treatment, men notice the formation of breasts, weaker bones, and a low libido, along with difficulty experiencing erection.
But guess what?
Research has found that along with the seemingly infinite benefits of weight lifting - it may allow for sex to still be possible in those suffering from prostate cancer (3).
In this research, 57 men with prostate cancer and who were just starting anti-androgen treatment were studied: 29 of them started training and 28 didn't.
The training group were in the gym twice a week for an hour, doing low-intensity cardio and 8 exercises for the large muscle groups performing 8-12 reps.
On non-training days they were also urged to exercise at home or walk for a half an hour.
And what happened?
At the end of the 12 weeks when the researchers asked about their sexual interest frequency of sex - they found a significant difference: the training group had both levels stable while the group who didn't train had both drop to zero.
Let's hear from the researchers:
"Participation in a short-term exercise program resulted in the maintenance of sexual activity in prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen-suppression therapy."
Here's a little graph below detailing some of this:
Further research has found that training bolsters sexual capabilities because it helps men feel more masculine whilst reducing fatigue and improving cardiovascular health (4).
There's no doubt being diagnosed with prostate cancer is a terrible thing.
But the research is clear: your sex life won't suffer with some good old fashioned cardio and resistance training.
Just another amazing benefit of exercise in another population.
"Stay Fit, Stay Flexed!"
REFERENCES
(1) Spry NA, Taaffe DR, England PJ et al. Long-term effects of intermittent androgen suppression therapy on lean and fat mass: a 33-month prospective study. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2013 Mar;16(1):67-72. doi: 10.1038/pcan.2012.33. Epub 2012 Aug 21.
(2) Newton RU, Spry N, Joseph D, Taaffe DR, Galvao DA. Combined resistance and aerobic exercise program reverses muscle loss in men undergoing androgen suppression therapy for prostate cancer without bone metastases: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Oncol. 2010 Jan 10;28(2):340-7. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2009.23.2488. Epub 2009 Nov 30.
