Prostate Cancer: Exercise Program Reduces Treatment Side Effects

Men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer frequently face debilitating side effects, including fatigue, loss of muscle mass, increased central obesity, and psychological distress. To combat these challenges, researchers conducted a multicenter randomized trial known as the STAMINA study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in the United Kingdom.

The findings demonstrate that structured lifestyle interventions can meaningfully protect patient well-being during standard cancer treatments.

Trial Design and Findings Across 15 NHS Facilities

The trial monitored approximately 700 men receiving ADT for prostate cancer across 15 National Health Service facilities in England, as reported by Healthline. Participants had a median age of 71, and 97% of them were white.

Patients in the intervention arm received a year-long program featuring supervised aerobic and resistance exercise delivered in community gyms, paired with tailored dietary advice and behavioral support. Meanwhile, the control group received an optimized usual care protocol. Adherence to the STAMINA exercise schedule proved remarkably high, with over 80 per cent of participants attending their scheduled sessions over the 12-month period.

Dietary Fat Linked to Long-Term Survival in Prostate Cancer

The STAMINA lifestyle intervention meets best practice guidelines, can be implemented in NHS [National Health Service] trusts in England, and offers clinicians a clear basis for identification and prescription of a supervised exercise and dietary advice intervention to mitigate negative effects associated with ADT.

Study authors, via Healthline

Quantifiable quality-of-life improvements accompanied the high participation rates. Participants in the exercise group experienced 26% less deterioration in prostate cancer-related quality of life and 30% less fatigue, according to Pulse Today. Standardized scoring demonstrated meaningful gains, registering +4.5 points on the FACT-P scale and +3.7 points on the FACT-G scale, both surpassing the three-point threshold for clinical importance, alongside a +1.9 improvement in FACIT-F fatigue scores.

Economic Value and Scalability Across the Health Service

Beyond clinical metrics, health economists evaluated the financial efficiency of embedding fitness and nutritional coaching into oncology pathways. The economic analysis calculated an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio ranging from £13,920 to £19,077 per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY). That figure compares favorably against the median ICER of £30,000 typically observed for NICE-approved oncology drugs.

Because the control group received an enhanced version of routine care rather than bare minimum monitoring, researchers believe the recorded benefits represent a conservative estimate of the true impact on patients. Safety data showed only three intervention-related serious adverse events across the entire cohort, with all affected individuals fully recovering.

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Nuffield Health Launches National Rollout Following Trial Success

Capitalizing on the trial data, project partner Nuffield Health has established a new Cancer Activity partnership working alongside Sheffield Hallam University and participating NHS trusts. The initiative translates the research framework into a practical community program housed within Nuffield Fitness and Wellbeing Clubs.

Ying Wang, senior principal scientist with the Department of Population Science at the American Cancer Society, highlighted the novelty of male-focused survivorship data. Much of the research in this area has focused on breast cancer survivors, so strong trial evidence that a structured lifestyle program improves quality of life and reduces fatigue specifically among men receiving ADT is especially valuable, Wang told Healthline.