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IMAGE: New ECU research has found exercise helps men with prostate cancer reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety view more
Credit: Edith Cowan University
New Edith Cowan University (ECU) research has found that exercise not only has physical benefits for men with prostate cancer, it also helps reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Up to one in four men experience anxiety either before or after prostate cancer treatment and up to one in five report depression, although few men access the support they need.
The study, published in the Nature journal
Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases, is the first randomised controlled trial to examine the long-term effects of different exercise on psychological distress in men with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).
The 48 hour fitness challenge was popularised by US ultrarunner David Goggins.
It was an emotional undertaking, with Portors tackling the fundraiser in honour of his father Chris who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019 and is terminal.
“I’d been thinking of ways I could fundraise since then really,” he said.
“More and more people are starting to do birthday fundraisers on Facebook and stuff but people didn’t seem to be really getting around them as much as I thought they would.
“So, I thought I’d give myself a bit of a challenge and give people a reason to get around the cause and show support.”