Cancer rehab trial gets €100k boost after success

A groundbreaking cancer rehabilitation trial in Cork, Ireland, has secured renewed funding of €100,000 from the Irish Cancer Society, fueling hopes that supportive rehabilitation will become a standard component of cancer care nationwide. The LIAM Mc Trial, launched in 2022, focused on men battling advanced prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers.

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I had to get hormone treatment and my testosterone was cut to zero. The problem with that is it was having an awful lot of side effects. I think of all the side effects, I got most of them.

Participants received intensive support twice weekly for twelve weeks, including specialized physiotherapy, nursing care, dietary advice, and psychological support. Developed by Cancer Research at UCC and initially funded by €300,000 from the Irish Cancer Society, the program saw 56 men engage, reporting an "overwhelmingly positive response."

John Bradley, a 66-year-old participant diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer, shared his transformative experience. After completing radiotherapy, he struggled with fatigue, insomnia, and concentration issues stemming from hormone treatment. "When all the treatment was finished, you’re kind of left to your own devices. You’re at home wondering what’s happening now and, unknown to you at times, your mental health is taking a battering," he recalled.

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You're lethargic, you can’t sleep properly, your concentration levels are zero. You could be having a conversation, and you get bored after two minutes. You just can’t concentrate, you can’t read books, and all of that has a big effect on your mental health.

Recommended for the trial three months after his radiotherapy ended, Bradley experienced a significant turnaround. "I have my confidence back. I don't have pains. I can sleep fine. I’m good. I’m very good," he stated, noting a 40% increase in muscle mass and a return to his former self. "Before the LIAM Mc, I was maybe at 50 or 60%, but I’m back up there at 90 now again."

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When all the treatment was finished, you’re kind of left to your own devices. You’re at home wondering what’s happening now and, unknown to you at times, your mental health is taking a battering.

The renewed investment will allow researchers to conduct a more in-depth analysis of the trial's outcomes, explore changes in muscle mass, and gather long-term follow-up data. Associate Professor Jack Gleeson, Co-Principal Investigator, emphasized the ultimate goal: leveraging this data to integrate supportive rehabilitation into routine Irish cancer aftercare.

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I have my confidence back. I don't have pains. I can sleep fine. I’m good. I’m very good. I’m a different person. Before the LIAM Mc, I was maybe at 50 or 60%, but I’m back up there at 90 now again.