| Prostate cancer is one of the most common | | | | measure: walking as briskly as one can while carrying |
| malignancies to affect men. | | | | on a conversation. Researchers from Johns Hopkins |
| Also, prostate cancer cells tend to thrive on | | | | University conducted a clinical trial to evaluate the |
| testosterone, the male hormone. By altering the | | | | effect of such moderate exercise on 70 men with |
| hormonal milieu and reducing the amount of | | | | localized prostate cancer (that which did not spread |
| testosterone the body produces, cancer cells | | | | beyond the tissue immediately surrounding the |
| "starve" and die. This measure can increase the man's | | | | prostate gland) and who led sedentary lifestyles. |
| survival. Hence, hormonal therapy, also known as | | | | These men were treated with ADT and/or radiation |
| ADT (androgen deprivation therapy) is a mainstream | | | | therapy. |
| treatment for prostate cancer. It should be noted | | | | Half of the men were directed to rapidly stroll for at |
| that even men who do not have prostate cancer | | | | least 20 minutes per day, five days per week, for |
| tend to lose bone density at the age when prostate | | | | eight weeks and the other half made no change in |
| cancer is most prevalent. | | | | their level of activity. The results of the trial revealed |
| However, a potential side effect of ADT, which | | | | that the men who ambulated experienced a .5% |
| causes the equivalent of a "male menopause", is | | | | increase in their bone mass. On the contrary, a 2.2% |
| osteoporosis. Also, the loss of bone density or bone | | | | decrease in bone mass during the two-month study |
| mass can cause bone pain, fractures, and immobility. | | | | period was observed among their sedentary |
| In fact, men who undergo ADT tend to lose 4-13% | | | | counterparts. |
| of their bone density per year. | | | | Therefore, since men who use ADT and who are |
| Thus, men who use ADT should also consume a | | | | able to walk briskly might benefit substantially and will |
| calcium-enriched diet and take calcium with vitamin D | | | | incur no adverse effects, this simple ounce of |
| supplements. They should also be monitored with | | | | prevention of osteoporosis, fractures, bone pain, and |
| periodic bone density scans. Happily, bone loss can be | | | | incapacitation can translate into a pound of cure. |
| reversed or even prevented by a very simple | | | | |