Cooking class study seeks to increase health outcomes for prostate cancer survivors and their partners

Dr. Carolyn Gotay leads a team that includes Drs. Gwen Chapman, Joyce Davison, and Winkle Kwan, and Ms. Cheri Van Patten that recently received funding for an Innovation Grant from the Canadian Cancer Society. This funding supports a study aimed at increasing health for prostate cancer survivors through an innovative cooking class intervention.

The study participants are men diagnosed with prostate cancer who are undergoing androgen deprivation therapy and their partners. The survivor-partner pairs will take part in a series of cooking classes to learn how to prepare healthy foods that can help prevent some of the negative side effects associated with this type of cancer treatment. These side effects include effects on bone health, weight gain, and changes in other areas of their lives. Nutrition and physical activity can prevent some of these side effects.

The researchers will learn more about whether this approach is helpful to participants and how it assists them in making healthy lifestyle changes. This information will determine whether the program should be tested in a larger group and whether it may eventually be incorporated as part of standard care.

This project was one of 46 studies funded in the Canadian Cancer Society’s Innovation Grant funding competition. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, Innovation Grants support innovative, creative problem solving in cancer research. The goal of this grant program is to support unconventional concepts, approaches, or methodologies to address problems in cancer research, and innovation projects include elements of creativity, curiosity, investigation, exploration, and opportunity. For the full list of recipients, please visit the Canadian Cancer Society’s announcement of the results.