Men with prostate cancer often experience significant and lasting disease- and treatment-related side effects. Approximately 75% of men who have, or who have previously had, prostate cancer will develop sexual dysfunction. In addition, they are at a 17% greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to untreated men. Exercise may be effective in preventing and improving both sexual dysfunction and cardiovascular health, however this has yet to be explored in men with prostate cancer undergoing watchful waiting, active surveillance, chemotherapies, radiation therapies, or immunotherapies.

Men with a current or previous diagnosis of prostate cancer will be randomised to complete 12 weeks of high-intensity aerobic and resistance training on three days of the week, or usual care. The primary outcome will be sexual function as assessed via the abridged version of the International Index of Erectile Function. All primary and secondary outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and 12 weeks.

Funding body:  Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences Faculty of Medicine 2019 Research Collaboration Seeding Grant.

This is a collaborative study with A/Prof Eric ChungPrinces Alexandra Hospital.

Project members

The University of Queensland researchers involved in this project are:

Professor Jeff Coombes

Director
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
Affiliate of Centre for Research on Exercise, Physical Activity and Health
Centre for Research on Exercise, Physical Activity and Health

Dr Tom Bailey

Adjunct Senior Fellow
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
Honorary Senior Fellow
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work
Research Fellow of Centre for Research on Exercise, Physical Activity and Health
Centre for Research on Exercise, Physical Activity and Health