Study: Exercise Improves Survival Rate of Prostate Patients

Regular exercise doesn’t just do wonders for the heart and figure. New research suggests physical activity may be beneficial for those with low-grade prostate cancer.

Researchers at the University of California (UCSF) compared their recent study against previous findings that suggested brisk walking or jogging for three hours a week, was related to slower prostate cancer growth and associated deaths.

For this study, scientist examined the activity in the genes of 70 men with low-grade prostate cancer. They found 109 genes that were more active and 75 genes that were less active in those men who exercised at a robust pace for three hours a week, compared to those who didn’t.

“Vigorous physical activity may provide clinical benefits for men diagnosed with earlier stage prostate cancer,” said June Chan professor at UCSF and one of the study authors.

Prostate cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer among men over the age of 75, and most often affects African-American men, men who are older than 60, and men who have an immediate family member with prostate cancer, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.