Men with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer suffers from a serious impact of the cancer treatment burden that will have been going on for several years throughout their survivorship journey.

With the support of donations to the Hallam Fund, PhD student Rosa Greasley was able to work with the Centre for Sports and Exercise Science in improving the quality of life for men with advanced prostate cancer. 

Rosa's research investigated how exercise can have a positive outcome on the physical function and muscle mass of these men, beneficially impacting their response to treatment and their overall wellbeing. The trial, which focused on 50 men with end stage prostate cancer involved a 16-week combined programme of exercise training and dietary advice. Rosa's work offered the men the opportunity to take back control over their disease, helped them get stronger, improved their physical function and mental health, and helped them undertake daily activities. The group format of the exercise programme also gave the men involved the chance to meet other individuals who were going through a similar journey and develop life-friendships after the trial.

The study proved the feasibility of undertaking further exercise trails with patients who are at the end stage of prostate cancer and Rosa's work adds to a growing body of research around exercise for cancer patients.

For Rosa, who celebrated the successful completion of her PhD this month, the impact of the research went far beyond her PhD. Being a cancer survivor herself, she has experienced first-hand the importance of having a personal goal during recovery. Through Hallam Fund donations, Rosa was able to deliver a study that has not been done before and create a programme that enhanced the quality of life for men with advanced prostate cancer.