Exercise Training Among Men With Prostate Cancer

The primary objective is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a home-based endurance exercise program among men diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer.

Approximately 40 people will take part in this study and all of these people will take part at Duke University Medical Center.

Participation in this study involves the following.

* We will ask you to perform a cardiopulmonary exercise test (walking stress test) to determine if you have any undiagnosed cardiovascular health problems that may limit your ability to participate in an exercise training program. This test will take place at the Duke Center for Living on Duke University Campus.
* Complete a body composition assessment. This test is designed to determine your body fat and lean body tissue (muscle mass) percentage and will consist of you sitting quietly in a chamber with appropriate medical supervision. This test also will take place at the Duke Center for Living on Duke University Campus.
* Complete two questionnaires one at the beginning and one at the end that asks about how you are feeling and about your physical activity levels. The questionnaire takes about 20-30 minutes.
* Provide two blood samples one at the beginning and one at the end to measure levels of cardiovascular disease risk factors (cholesterol levels, c-reactive protein and insulin levels) in your blood that may be influenced by exercise. Blood collection will be drawn by medical staff at Duke University. The amount of blood drawn is approximately 2 teaspoons (10ml).
* We will also collect information on how much treatment you receive as well as how many and what type of side-effects you have from your medical treatment. This information will be obtained from your medical chart following the completion of your treatment.

Following the successful completion of all initial tests and procedures (as described above), you will be randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) to one of the following two groups:

1. Exercise Training Group: You will be given a customized training program aimed at increasing cardiorespiratory fitness. You will be asked to exercise 3 to 5 times per week. All sessions will include a 5 minute warm-up and 5 minute cool-down at the beginning and end of each session totaling 30-45 minutes per session. You will also receive a heart rate monitor to record each exercise session to monitor adherence and compliance. You will receive telephone calls every two weeks to provide encouragement, outline goals, and provide feedback on study progress.

   OR
2. Wait-List Control Group: You will be asked to maintain your usual exercise levels during the 6 month study period. You will receive telephone calls to report your levels of exercise during the study. After study completion you will receive a heart rate monitor and an individualized exercise prescription based on your cardiorespiratory fitness test at the end of the study period (6 months).

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Legal age (\>18 years old)
2. An interval of at least 6 weeks between prior radical prostatectomy and study enrollment
3. Karnofsky performance status of at least 70% at study entry
4. Estimated life expectancy of ≥6 months
5. Ability to read and understand English
6. Attending urologist approval
7. Signed informed consent
8. Willingness to be randomized; and
9. No contraindications to exercise as recommended by the American Thoracic Society

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Acute myocardial infarction (6 weeks)
2. Unstable angina
3. Uncontrolled arrhythmias causing symptoms or hemodynamic compromise
4. Syncope
5. Acute endocarditis
6. Acute myocarditis or pericarditis
7. Uncontrolled heart failure
8. Acute pulmonary embolus or pulmonary infarction
9. Thrombosis of lower extremities
10. Suspected dissecting aneurysm
11. Uncontrolled asthma
12. Pulmonary edema
13. Room air desaturation at rest ≤85%
14. Respiratory failure
15. Acute noncardiopulmonary disorder that may affect exercise performance or be aggravated by exercise; and
16. Mental impairment leading to inability to cooperate