Charity-funded research like the ADHERE programme, generously supported by John Burbage and Family, is helping prostate cancer patients lead healthier, more active lives.
Thanks to research from Mr Declan Cahill’s Urology team at The Royal Marsden, prostate cancer patients can access a structured physical exercise programme alongside their treatment.
ADHERE (Assessing a Digital exercise intervention for Health outcomes and Engagement in Regular Exercise) explores how a structured, online exercise programme can support prostate cancer patients undergoing hormone therapy. The initiative delivers a scalable, cost-effective initiative that, if proven effective, could be implemented across the NHS and help cancer patients around the UK.
Over the past year, the research team within The Royal Marsden’s Urology department, led by Emily Curtis, has developed a digital programme delivered through a single, accessible platform - the Patient Hub. The trial’s research aims to help patients feel better equipped to stay active during treatment, become physically stronger, and overall improve their quality of life.
“Thanks to the Burbage Family’s support, we’ve been able to design a trial that brings together everything patients need to exercise safely, in one place. We’re hopeful it will make a real difference to their experience during treatment.”
Peter’s story - “Keeping fit is so important”
79-year-old Peter underwent four weeks of radiotherapy at The Royal Marsden Sutton site, under the care of Mr Thompson, then joined the Charity-funded THRIVE exercise programme (before the current ADHERE exercise programme existed), which he credits as a vital part of his recovery. Through weekly Zoom sessions with a supportive community of fellow patients, Peter has regained strength, improved his fitness, and found renewed confidence.
“My father died of prostate cancer. Sadly, it had spread too far by the time he got his diagnosis and there wasn’t much that could be done. As a result of this, in my late 40s, I thought I’d have a check-up. My PSA was acceptable, and I kept having regular check-ups at Kingston Hospital every couple of years under the care of Mr Alan Thompson (a Consultant Urological Surgeon at The Royal Marsden and Kingston Hospital NHS Trust).
“It wasn’t a shock when my PSA test results showed a prostate cancer diagnosis; I was expecting it. Mr Thompson was very reassuring as we’d been so vigilant with the testing – we’d caught it with plenty of time.
“I met Emily Curtis and Chris Cotterell from the THRIVE team within a couple of weeks of my radiotherapy. We did group exercise sessions on Zoom and the team had videos you could download and follow at your own pace. These are exceptionally good.
“Four years later and I still join the Zoom group exercise sessions three times a week! Keeping fit is so important and this programme is really good for patients – I can’t praise it enough. I feel like the exercise sessions really help to give me a purpose. Emily is absolutely brilliant.”
The exercise programme enabled Peter to stay active, connected, and motivated since his diagnosis. Despite facing multiple serious health challenges over the last five years - including prostate and skin cancer, severe pancreatitis, gall bladder removal and a stroke - he has remained positive and resilient throughout treatment. He attends the Royal Marsden William Rous clinic in Kingston every six months for monitoring.
For guidance and online resources about physical exercise during cancer treatment, head to The Royal Marsden website.
“I am 79 now and have a wife, Gill, two sons who are in the Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, and two granddaughters. I'll be celebrating my 80th birthday in May. We haven't made big family plans to celebrate yet - I celebrate life everyday anyway!"
Every morning Peter gets up at 6am and collects the free papers from the local railway station to distribute them to elderly people in the neighbourhood. He finds it very satisfying, saying it serves two purposes; it helps him stay active with keeping his steps up and also gives him the time to reflect on how lucky he has been with all the help and support he's received.
What’s next for ADHERE?
Recruitment for the trial began in Autumn 2025, with the trial expected to run for two years. The team will recruit 160 patients, initially starting with patients at the hospital in Chelsea. However, many care programmes that begin at The Royal Marsden are replicated across the NHS and internationally, becoming new standards of care for people with cancer. ADHERE’s impact therefore has the potential to be felt on a global scale.
Your support helps fund world-leading trials like ADHERE
We would like to thank John Burbage and Family, whose generous support has helped to fund the ADHERE programme – this research will help people to live well with, and beyond, cancer, and offer them hope, support and community.
By supporting us, we can continue funding groundbreaking research, treatment and care that can make a difference to cancer patients at The Royal Marsden and around the world.
Donate today and find out other ways you can support us.