'A sense of belonging aids our cancer recovery'

A man who has been fighting prostate cancer has described how group fitness sessions have helped recovery and offered a "sense of belonging".

Richard Donaldson, 55, is among a group of 16 men who have completed the varied health programme at Aberdeen FC's Pittodrie Stadium in recent weeks.

Prostate FFIT (Football Fans in Training) has been provided by the Prostate Scotland and SPFL (Scottish Professional Football League) Trust charities.

Mr Donaldson, from Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, said the group members had formed a close lasting bond.

Following a biopsy, cancer was found on the right side of the creel fisherman and Airbnb owner's prostate. He had his prostate removed in April.

He is now cancer free, but will continue to be tested every three months for the next three years.

He said: "It's a horrible feeling to be diagnosed with cancer, but early diagnosis saves lives.

"You feel as though your whole world is caving in.

"After they removed my prostate and they said it's likely that the cancer would have broken out and spread to my bones. I'm very lucky."

During his treatment he suffered from fatigue, and said the course at Pittodrie made a big difference.

"It's a sense of belonging when you come into a group because when you get diagnosed with prostate cancer you're on your own to start with," he said.

"Everybody is in the same boat here and you learn about how prostate cancer can affect you."

He added: "This course helped me fight fatigue, the instructors and dieticians have been brilliant.

"I've lost about half-a-stone, I try and look at my food better, and try to live a healthier life.

"When fatigue hits, you have to fight back. I feel brilliant."

The programme at Pittodrie has lasted 12 weeks, with the whole group reducing their body mass index (BMI) - which measures the ratio of height to weight to estimate body fat - and blood pressure.

Each 90-minute session was split between nutrition advice - to help balance the impact of treatment - and fitness.

It included aerobic, strength, balance and flexibility exercises -often on the pitch, if the weather allowed.

Prostate Scotland's services development manager Elaine Stewart hailed Prostate FFIT (Football Fans in Training) a success.

"The feedback we receive from men is powerful," she said.

"Prostate FFIT is making a huge difference as they go through prostate cancer treatment which is a challenging process - emotionally, mentally and physically."

She said that following the success of the programme, they were announcing a second Prostate FFIT programme at Pittodrie starting on 29 January.

"We're inviting men going through their treatment in Aberdeenshire to sign up and take part," she said.

"It's a great opportunity to get out of your head, do physical exercise, meet with others and have some fun - it offers a new perspective. Let us support you in your prostate cancer journey."

Cancer exercise coach Nicola Graham, who runs the programme, said: "The idea is to enable participants to have a better quality of life so we teach them transferable exercises that can help them at home and increase these gradually."

Mr Donaldson, a big Rangers fan, said there was no rivalry among the group, despite the majority being Aberdeen fans.

"Cancer has no colours," he explained.

"There's no discrimination here - because we all know who the best team is."

The prostate is a gland that is about the size of a walnut which sits just below the bladder within the pelvis.

It surrounds the urethra - the tube that takes urine out of the body through the penis.

Prostate cancer - abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth - often develops slowly.

There may be no signs or symptoms for years and some people never develop any problems from it.

But in others, the cancer can be aggressive and deadly.

Prostate cancer that is detected early has the best chance for successful treatment.