[rboseley]

I am a 67 year old roadie  with about four years of semi-serious cycling under by belt. (3 to 4 rides a week, average 40 miles per ride)

Just got a PSA result of 5.6 with a good digital result. I admit it has been 5 years since my last PSA which was 4.2 at the time.

That’s that. My question concerns a topic I know has been kicked around in the past – mostly comfort related. Has anyone talked to a Urologist about cycling and it’s effect on the mighty prostate? I would think that all that mistreatment would lead to something. (Other than the obvious)

Just curious.

 

[msohio]

There are issues

I am 67 as well. I had a very bad prostate infection a couple of years back and ever since have had to be cautious about my prostate and riding.

I used to use a narrow saddle without a hitch even after five hours. Since the infection, I found that saddle caused me to have a hard time passing water for several hours after a ride of more than an hour. My doc said the prostate was swelling slightly when riding because of pressure from the saddle.

I have gone to a SMP saddle with the cutout.and the problem is solved 100%.

In addition, I was told my the docs at the Mayo that I should not ride for at least 48 hours before a PSA test. Cycling has shown to give very erratic PSA readings. Small wonder when ya think about it.

 

[rboseley]

Thanks for the reply. I didn't think this would generate a ton of activity! Actually I did a 40 miler the evening before the PSA. I'm not to concerned at 5.6 and a good digital I am going to get a follow-up using a slightly different test in 3 months, so I wil stay off the bike for at least 48 hours.

 

[msohio]

Get another PSA

You may note the LiveSTRONG wristband as my "image". I am on the board of the Lance Armstrong Foundation and I would tell you an increase of more than 0.75 in a year is a significant worry.

I might suggest another test and a second opinion. Prostate cancer is relatively easy to deal with IF you get it early. Very nasty if it is advanced. I would strongly urge you to be conservative. Get a re-test and a re-exam from a prostate specialist not just a PG doc.Your numbers say there is a risk here.

 

[Centuryx3]

I might suggest another test and a second opinion.

+100-- I was diagnosed with prostate cancer about 5 years ago. Prior to the diagnosis, I'd had digital exams nearly every six months for 2 years.

Not once did the exam reveal any abnormality.

Follow up on the PSA with a urologist and get the biopsy if indicated.

As said above, prostate cancer is not a big deal if caught in time.

 

[rboseley]

Good ideas all. My son is a Doc but not a Urologist . He has talked with some of them on staff. Their latest guidelines that after age 60, and increase of .35 per year is pretty much the average. Also, PSA can be measured as Free and Total. Unless specified, the test is going to be Total. The Free SPA is mostly due to age and growth of the prostate. I'm not making an issue here - I fully intend to follow-up. However, my reading 5 years ago of 4.2 plus 1.75 would allow be (just based on numbers alone) a 5.95

To take it a step or two further, the "new school" in Urology circles is that they don't even recommend a yearly PSA - especially for us older folks. Reason? It forces a decision which most likely have not been necessary. They still believe in a complete digital. This is not pulling ones knee up and having the exam in under 2 seconds.. My digital lasted at least 3 minutes, with me describing each sensation.

Bottom line, there's no magic. Full blown cancer in PSA's under 4. One article out of JAMA broke down survival rates of when on the PSA scale the condition was caught. I just had a friend go in, first PSA ever, and got a 27. I will miss him. Under 10, and other things being equal - the survival rate is outstanding.

 

[Dajianshan]

I have also read somewhere that you should do your best to..um...er...exercise the prostate as often as possible to keep it in shape and prevent swelling and reduce risk of cancer.

 

[Bob Ross]

Has anyone talked to a Urologist about cycling and it’s effect on the mighty prostate?

Yes, my conversation with my Urologist about cycling consisted entirely of:

Urologist: How would you describe your level of physical activity?
Me: Pretty intense, I'm an avid road cyclist, member of the New York Cycle Club...
Urologist: Oh yeah, I'm a member too!

Clearly he doesn't see any correlation between cycling & prostate problems!

 

[moneyman]

Good ideas all. My son is a Doc but not a Urologist . He has talked with some of them on staff. Their latest guidelines that after age 60, and increase of .35 per year is pretty much the average. Also, PSA can be measured as Free and Total. Unless specified, the test is going to be Total. The Free SPA is mostly due to age and growth of the prostate. I'm not making an issue here - I fully intend to follow-up. However, my reading 5 years ago of 4.2 plus 1.75 would allow be (just based on numbers alone) a 5.95

To take it a step or two further, the "new school" in Urology circles is that they don't even recommend a yearly PSA - especially for us older folks. Reason? It forces a decision which most likely have not been necessary. They still believe in a complete digital. This is not pulling ones knee up and having the exam in under 2 seconds.. My digital lasted at least 3 minutes, with me describing each sensation.

Bottom line, there's no magic. Full blown cancer in PSA's under 4. One article out of JAMA broke down survival rates of when on the PSA scale the condition was caught. I just had a friend go in, first PSA ever, and got a 27. I will miss him. Under 10, and other things being equal - the survival rate is outstanding.

AT 47 years old, I had a PSA of 1.6 and no abnormalities in the DRE.

At 48 years old, I had a PSA of 2.7 and no abnormalities in DRE.

Later that year, I had a biopsy and 4 of 10 samples were positive.I had prostate cancer. I had it removed 2 months after diagnosis.

I'm 50 years old and cancer free. To assume that PSAs tell the whole story is not accurate. To not have the test because it might force you to make a decision is ludicrous.

PC, when it leaves the prostate, metastisizes into the bones. Current treatments at that stage are combinations of hormone therapy, chemo, and /or radiation. Hormone therapy is very expensive, causes weight gain, breast enlargement, your facial hair stops growing and you lose your libido. Chemo has all the side effects we have come to know and love - nausea and vomiting, weakness, loss of hair and energy. Ultimately, these treatments give you some time, but the cancer gets you.

Early diagnosis and treatment can save your life. If you would like to, send me a message and I'll give you the names of a dozen or more men I know who have done that. In addition, I'll give you the names of the widows of several men who did not.

 

[J24]

Recently went through PC brachytherapy and IBRT treatment.

Only caution by Dr. regarding cycling was that it could elevate your testostorone level, since position on the saddle stimulates/massages the prostate and I was told not to ride at least 3 days before a PSA test. Same effect from saddle/horseback riding and motorcycle seat.

 

[J24]

Forgort about the OP's main question about cycling and prostate cancer.
Both the urologist and the oncologist who treated my cancer said that PC is genetic and both specifically told me there is no known activity such as cycling that can either cause or prevent prostate cancer.

Finally at time of diagnosis I had a PSA of 9.4 and out of 18 cores/biopsies I only had 3% of 1 core postive & that was gleason 7 and stage T2A. 7 months later when I started radiation my PSA was10.2.
My several digital exams throughout this time were inconclusive, so I think DREs are Bullshit, and if you're relying only on that...well then Good Luck.

 

[thinkcooper]

50 year old here, and was just diagnosed with PC in March following my 4th transrectal biopsy in the last six years. One sample out of 26 samples was positive, yielding a gleason score = 3 + 3. Current strategy: quarterly bloodwork and physical exam, annual biopsy, with a goal of five years without surgical removal.

I've been tracking my PSA/freeCell PSA over the last six years, and generally the numbers seem to be better the more I'm cycling. My urologist is in full support of my cycling.

 

[acid_rider]

I can't contribute much to this topic except to say +1 on Selle SMP saddle, the one with a huge nose-to-tail cutout. I started using it only 3 weeks ago (my riding buddy had it for 1.5 years now and loves it) and so far after 20 hours and 600km of riding it certainly does *not* put any undue pressure on those "private" areas, like prostate. This saddle works for women too. It forces all body weight on sit-bones and takes about 3-4-5 weeks to get used to that. So initially sit-bones get a bit sore/bruised and then it settles gradually, if the saddle is positioned correctly. Once sit-bones are broken-in (so to speak) it seems to work well enough. It is *critical to angle* Selle SMP correctly. Steve Hogg positioned mine and he sold and positioned plenty to date. He said the angle range is from 1-3 degrees nose-down (literally!), and up to completely flat, nose-to-tail. In my case flat/level seems to work best. When he measures the tilt angle he puts a long flat/wide ruler on top of seat, nose to tail, from high end of nose to high end of rear end and puts a level or angle measure device on top of that ruler. It is almost impossible to see the angle by naked eye, in my opinion, so you need a level bubble to help. And be sure the bike is on level surface too.

Good luck everyone.

 

[smokey422]

I just got the results back from my prostate test today and they were completely normal. All men, particularly those of us over 50, should get this checked yearly. Prostate cancer can be a killer if it's not detected early.

Smokey

 

[Autopete]

As the iPhone guys like a say ther's an app for that, really.