Exercise is increasingly recognised as a powerful, evidence‑based treatment for the physical and psychological side effects of prostate cancer and its therapies. Yet many men still face significant barriers to accessing specialist exercise support, particularly in the period immediately following diagnosis. This session brings together expertise from programme design, oncology physiotherapy, and lived experience to demonstrate how structured exercise can transform survivorship outcomes.
Oncology Physiotherapist and Exercise Service Lead Gemma Harris will outline the clinical evidence supporting exercise as a core component of prostate cancer care, including its impact on fatigue, functional decline, metabolic health, and treatment‑related side effects. She will also explain the design, safety considerations, and delivery model of Prostate Cancer UK’s exercise pilot programme, highlighting how multidisciplinary collaboration ensures safe and effective participation.
Improvement Programmes Manager Jo Riches will explore the system‑level challenges that prevent men from accessing exercise support early, including gaps in referral pathways, variation in service provision, and barriers to self‑management. She will share practical strategies for embedding simple, scalable referral processes that reduce downstream healthcare demand and improve long‑term outcomes.
Complementing this, patient advocate Andy Westbrook will share his personal experience of postoperative recovery and how structured exercise — combined with clinician encouragement and peer support — helped rebuild confidence, strength, and wellbeing. His perspective underscores the importance of timely referral and the transformative impact of accessible, evidence‑based exercise services.
This session forms part of the Specialists Conference 2026 and is designed for secondary care nurses, clinical nurse specialists, doctors, and allied health professionals seeking to integrate exercise more effectively into prostate cancer pathways.
