5kdad

I have a physical coming up soon, with a new doctor (I turned 60 in December). The new doctor told me to stay off the bike for TWO WEEKS before the check up!

OldTryGuy

IMO your Dr. is out of touch with the time frame after bicycling if you are going have a PSA test and/or a DRE. One week is more than adequate.

indyfabz

Lot's of inflammation in the A&S forum.

BackEasy

I remember 30 years ago when I rode my Raleigh Record that I got numbness down there. I'm just getting back to riding with a hybrid bike this last few weeks.

I had cancer in my neck in 2001 (surgery & radiation) and later had prostate biopsies for 4 consecutive years due to high PSA. I recently had a prostate MRI for the first time and other than being enlarged the results showed no abnormalities.

I just today read this thread and it made me think. I've been sedentary for a long while so I think the benefits of biking out-way the unknown.

JanMM

Caused by cycling.

JanMM

You got that right!

flan48

Hi 5K,
2 years ago I had a high PSA scare- absolute value, 4.7 or 4.8, not so high, but double the year before. Since the urologist said that cycling might inflame the prostate and temporarily cause a high PSA, on the re-test, 1 month later, and 3 subsequent tests, I stayed off the bike for 4-5 days prior. Sure enough, in all 4 cases, PSA was back down to 2.4, well within the normal range.

Best of luck.

Daniel4

When I got married and planning a family, my wife changed my bicycle seat to one with extra space under the crotch.

After all these years, I wonder how effective that really was. Now, I'm also wondering if bicycle shorts come with inside padded bottomless liners.

79pmooney

I asked my doc about cycling and prostrates when he gave me the digital exam years ago. His answer was that if the seat was right, the effect would be a gentle massage which ought to be beneficial.

Ben

BackEasy

After thinking a little more on this I ordered an economical saddle with a full length center recess for comfortable anatomic relief.

side_FX

I wonder about riding a drop bar, leaning forward with more weight on arms and upper body vs. the upright, hybrid seating position directly pressing down on your saddle would make any difference in prostate health?

peterws

D'ya mean an ergonomic saddle? I saw a noseless smart looking job on ebay for around £11 . . . .free delivery. From China . . . .

BackEasy

I did mean economical since most of the ones in this category seem to start around 40GBP. I found one for $25CDN/14GBP - RockBros. It's also sold on ebay.

nesdog

I had almost the same scenario as my numbers were like yours. Scared the heck out of me! Re-test done after being off the bike for a week brought numbers to normal. Any time I am having labs done to check PSA, I cut down bike time. There is definitely a relationship.

I've been using SMP saddles for about 4 years. Never get numbed.

jgscisum 

I have agressive prostate cancer. I am 65 years old. Initially my doctor noticed an increase from .5 psa to 3 psa. He knows I ride a lot of miles and had a history of riding 200+ miles a week. When the PSA of 3 was found the doc said we will watch it. I get a yearly physical and quarterly check-ups. Shortly after, for some reason, I had a bad urinary tract infection. Kept me off the bike for 2 months. I don't do well with antibiotics and was on a small dose for 30 days. After 60 days he was still finding low level infection. One month later I went in for my quarterly check-up. PSA had shot to 13.5 and alarms were going off. Two weeks later it had gone down to only 11. I was scheduled an appointment with a urologist. Missed that appointment and a total time of 60 days passed before I saw the urologist. The urologist did the usual physical exam and said my prostate is normal size but one side is firmer than the other. Suggested biopsy to be safe. Biopsy revealed cancer. Gleason scores of 4-4 in 3 quadrants and 2-2 in the 4th quadrant. BAD numbers! All this happened in 90 days. I talked to many who have had prostate cancer. All of them chose removal and experienced major life changing problems. Only 1 had robotic surgery and had mild problems. I immediately chose not to have mine removed or normal radiation for that matter!!!! Everyone I conversed with the next 2 weeks were informed of my cancer. I was looking for advice or alternatives. Thankfully, someone mentioned Proton Radiation. The next week was spent on the web studying Proton Radiation. This type of radiation has been around since the 80's. Urologist or Oncologist will NOT TELL YOU about this alternative. Mine didn't. It's all about money I believe. There are NO side effects and when being treated you cannot tell anything has happened. There are not many Proton facilities in the US. I live in Bowling Green, KY and the closest to me was Knoxville, TN. 200 miles away. I have been accepted for treatment and start my 39 daily treatments (M-F) June 6th. I will finish July 28th. I will live in Knoxville and will try to come home on weekends. The American Cancer Society found lodging for me for $19 per night at a very nice extended stay hotel (normally 170.00 per night). I will be able to ride my bike to my treatments!!!! Doc said no reason I can't. My purpose for posting my story is to make people aware that there is a very safe, although costly, alternative to traditional prostate cancer treatment. It has a very HIGH (close to 98%) success rate and little chance of the cancer returning which is not the case with traditional treatment. My cancer was evidently there when I had a score of PSA 3 and was aggressive. Please, everyone get quarterly check-ups and never error on the side of denial like I did (I assumed and hoped the urinary tract infection caused the high PSA). Even low scores can be positive for cancer. Any question please feel free to PM me.

gary10509

I ride both. I believe the hybrid position DOES cause more discomfort.

MrGhrelin

Contrary to some of the posts I've read here, most of the studies I've read show that resistance aerobic exercise (bicycling in particular) have shown to not only slow growth, but actually shrink enlarged prostates. Scientist don't know why it works yet, they suspect that it modifies hormone levels that signal tumor cells that it's time to kill themselves (apoptosis).

Of course there is a lot of crap info in the internet, but I would suggest those interested google bicycling exercise prostate and look at articles from google scholar or NIH or PLOS sites. There is a wealth of stuff to read on the subject.

For example
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/art...l.pone.0067579
Shows that exercise is really hard on tumor cells.

hobkirk

I just noticed this thread had resurfaced. In case anyone is curious...

Michael was about to leave on a week-long mountain hike when he had the problems I described in the original post.

• He was going to cancel - any recurrence while in the wilderness could be fatal.
• Then he realized learning how to catheterize himself was a much better choice. (Once he had overcome his squeamishness.)
• He did the hike and had no problems. Hooray!
• About 3 months ago, he had surgery to clean out (?) the prostate gland. I don't fully understand it, but I think the surgeon cut into the prostate and sewed it up afterward, so he still has a prostate gland. (When I had mine removed using robotic surgery, I don't remember hearing about this as an option).

In 90 minutes I will be going for a ride with Michael. He really liked the 2 rides I described in the original post, and now he's decided to start riding again. Last week we rode a flat 15 and then 18 that added a big hill. Hooray!

yannisg

I have taken a PSA test with 48 hours of riding. Often I have taken the PSA test after riding strenuously for 2 hrs. The doctor says that riding or saddle pressure does not affect the PSA test.
I have heard a few riders complaining that saddle pressure has aggravated their prostrate.
IMO a lot depends on your sit bone anatomy. I don't ride a slotted saddle, and very rarely do I feel any numbness after long Brevets.
Also saddle fit is very personal. Occasional someone recommends a great saddle that offers exceptional comfort from the beginning. You try it and it's uncomfortable after a few kilometers.
Once you find a saddle that suits you, stick with it. Even by a second one in case it's not produced any longer.

OldTryGuy

Good to read that things are looking up for M.

Could have been a TURP?

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) - NHS Choices

OldTryGuy

Some reasons for elevated PSA numbers......

https://prostate.net/articles/15-thin...rease-your-psa

Zinger

+1

I use Brooks now.

No more Selle Italia Turbo

Bsgs87

I had a PSA test this past Thursday and the doctor told me to stay off the bike for a week before the test. I don't have the results yet, next week. PSA was 4.7 a month and a half ago. Doctor says if PSA is still high he wants me to do a biopsy.

OldTryGuy

My monthly prostate cancer blood work, includes PSA, is next Friday so today's 101 miles is the last ride until after the blood work.

Doug64

Get the biopsy. I speaking from experience.