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A supported exercise and wellbeing programme for men with prostate cancer reduced side effects from androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), the results of a study funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) have shown.
Publishing their findings in The Lancet Oncology on 4 September 2026, researchers analysed data from 700 men with prostate cancer from 15 NHS hospitals in England, 389 of these patients were randomly assigned to the 12-month STAMINA lifestyle intervention programme, which took place at Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing clubs.
The outcomes of the programme, which offered aerobic and resistance exercise, dietary advice and behavioural support, were measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Prostate (FACT-P), the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue (FACIT-F) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) questionnaires.
These questionnaires look at health-related quality of life (QoL) — including physical and emotional wellbeing — and fatigue. At 12 months, the results of the STAMINA programme showed a statistically significant improvement in cancer-specific QoL and decreased fatigue, compared with men who had received usual care.
Liam Bourke, academic programme director of STAMINA at Sheffield Hallam University, said that the trial “offers a definitive step-change in how lifestyle programmes should be considered and integrated comprehensively into routine prostate cancer care”.
”As the largest trial of its kind ever to be conducted, and the first to be designed to work in the NHS from day one, this study is really unique and ensures that the positive outcomes of the research will be delivered exactly where they need to be — to NHS patients during routine care,” he added.
The study authors noted: “Men on ADT regularly present to primary and secondary care, in oncology and urology clinics, with symptoms related to their essential cancer treatment but with no evidence-based mitigation provided.
“[The STAMINA trial] provides a way to substantially offset these distressing problems with an evidence-based intervention delivery pathway that can be integrated into core cancer care across the UK.”
Following the research, Nuffield has now started a Cancer Activity Programme (CAP), which is a free, 24-week exercise programme to support people undergoing ADT. People are currently referred to the programme by selected NHS trusts.
In a press release published on 7 September 2026, the NIHR said that there are plans for CAP to be expanded to include breast and bowel cancer patients, with 50,000 funded places by 2030.
A spokesperson for the British Oncology Pharmacy Association said the association welcomed the findings, adding that the study “demonstrates the value of embedding supportive care interventions alongside cancer treatment and supports wider adoption of these programmes across the NHS”.
“[Pharmacy professionals] have an important role in supporting people living with prostate cancer and managing the side effects of ADT. In hospital settings, specialist cancer pharmacists work with multidisciplinary teams to optimise medicines, identify and manage treatment-related adverse effects, support cardiovascular and bone health, and provide personalised advice on symptom management,” they added.
“Community pharmacists are often the most accessible healthcare professionals for patients and can provide advice on medicines, fatigue management, healthy lifestyle choices, weight management, smoking cessation and cardiovascular risk reduction. They can also help identify patients who may benefit from additional support services and signpost to exercise, wellbeing and cancer support programmes.”
Diana Mathews, advanced oncology pharmacist and non-medical prescriber in urology at The Velindre Cancer Centre, commented: “It is great to see the research focus also taking into account patient QoL on the treatments we have. A lot of the time it is not only about living longer, but living longer with good QoL, and it is studies like this that will help us gather the information we need to educate our patient to achieve that goal.”
Amy Rylance, director of health services, equity and improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “[The findings were] hugely important, as while hormone therapy is an effective treatment for prostate cancer, we know it can cause difficult side effects for men.
“More research like this is needed to reduce the side effects men experience from treatment. As the largest public funder of prostate cancer research, Prostate Cancer UK is supporting a number of exciting projects, which will improve and personalise treatments.
“Right now, we’re calling on the NHS to implement the STAMINA programme at scale so that all men diagnosed with prostate cancer and being treated with hormone therapy can benefit from it.”
