New research shows that men experience more debilitating and often permanent side effects of prostate cancer when cancer treatment is coupled with poor lifestyle habits.
The study, presented at the 2011 National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference, found that men with prostate cancer suffered far more from side effects, including rectal bleeding, erectile dysfunction, and incontinence, if they were smokers, inactive, or overweight during and after radiotherapy.
Chief medical officer at Macmillan Cancer Support, leading oncologist and co-author of the research, professor Jane Maher, said, “As well as affecting their health, effects of radiotherapy like impotence and incontinence, can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on men’s sex lives and relationships. It’s clear that good lifestyle habits can dramatically reduce side-effects of radiotherapy so I’d urge men with prostate cancer to keep active, not smoke and eat well.”
Compared to sedentary men, those with prostate cancer who walked briskly for more than 2 hours a week, played a sport regularly, or attended a gym were twice as likely to have no side effects and normal erections, the study found. Furthermore, even if they experienced erectile impairment, men with healthy lifestyles were much more apt to respond to medication.
Professor Jane Maher recommends giving prostate cancer patients:
- Counseling before treatment
- Requirements for physical activity
- If necessary, referrals to smoking cessation clinics and nutritionists
Source: NCRI.