Download March 2015

March 18th - Darren Au is a Registered Kinesiologist and Certified
Exercise Physiologist.
He completed his bachelor’s degree at University of Guelph in Human Kinetics. Currently, he is a
graduate student at the University of Guelph under the supervision of Dr. Daniel Santa Mina. His
research interest lie in the evaluation of two novel approaches to pelvic floor training (Pfilates and
Hypopressives) for the recovery of urinary incontinence for men undergoing surgery for prostate cancer.
Darren is a strong advocate for exercise in cancer survivors, with a primary goal of maintaining and
improving physical fitness and function before, during, and after treatment. His experience in clinical and
research practice at the Princess Margaret Hospital includes extensive fitness testing, exercise
prescription, and training for cancer survivors.
We are often told that exercise, a good diet and a healthy lifestyle are beneficial – either in preventing
cancer or in reducing the chance of recurrence. Here is more evidence:
A new study made the news last month. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, it found that
prolonged sedentary behaviour was associated with a 15 to 20 per cent higher risk of cancer and death
from cancer; as well as corresponding risks of heart disease and diabetes. According to the study,
engaging in 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous daily exercise is not enough to compensate i.e. it
does not mean it's OK to then "sit on your rear" for the rest of the day.
Among patients with prostate cancer, those who smoke have increased risks of experiencing side effects
from treatment and of developing future cancer recurrences, or even dying from prostate cancer. The
findings, which are published in BJU International, suggest that smoking may negatively affect the health
outcomes of patients with prostate cancer and may contribute to complications related to their care.