Cyclists and prostate cancer

@jc76 that is what I was told for a bout 8 yrs ( when I got my physical from about 2014 onward) - "dont worry about PSA /Prostate cancer..if you get it and are over 65, they usually dont even treat it !"

Also a bike rider ( just 2-3 mi neighborhood rides usually x 2-3 times daily)

@chippydoo
Agree,
Before I started seeing my present Mayo PCP my previous doctors were "do you want the PSA test" it is voluntary.

Then my present PCP did a lot of research when he was going through medical school and internship and really took an interest in being up on what was current being seen.

The medical institution I agree made huge mistake not recommending PSA test anymore and then finding a sudden rise in stage 4 because were not catcthing at stage 1.

If my PCP was not adamant about not liking my rise of PSA regardless of my PSA being under normal I would NOT have caught my PC early and had the options I did.

@drcopp
I really agree with your post and reply: "I will ask my Dr. about bike riding and see what his advice is." Exactly what a poster on MCC should do when reading experience of others. I am glad you posted that reply.

Only your doctors not those on MCC have examined you and have your complete medical history and are medical professionals to give you specific advise and guidance on what to do and not do.

I agree the biopsy is going to give you Gleason Score not PSA. PSA is just what one poster posted some time ago that it is like a "check engine light." Need to check prostate gland.

And your doctor gave you really accurate medical advice. It is the rise of PSA not necesarrily the number that is of concern.

It really sounds from your post you have an excellent doctor. Good luck!

@drcopp
The seat you are using helps. But my R/O, Mayo PCP, asked me not to ride a bike for a week prior to PSA test to ensure irritation did not occur to prostate from bike riding. I have a special seat on my hybrid bike that does not have a tonque and is wide with springs below it. I ride on those bones at each side.

However I follow my doctors advise which was lets make sure even with your bike seat you are not irritating your prostate as I ride for 20 miles.

I am a little confuses with you doctors discussion on PSA levels. The present PSA level deemed normal at Mayo is below 4. My PSA at 76 was 3.75 but had been rising every 3 months for over 2 years. That rise not necessarily the number at was something my PCP did not like and referred me to a Mayo uorlogist who did MRI/Contrast, MRI/Fusion biopsies, and got my Gleason Score of 3+4 and 4+3 (totals are 7) and intermediate risk.

I had good Mayo R/O and good UFHPTI R/O and combined they ordered, bone scan, Decipher, and PSMA. Bone and PSMA were negative. Decipher came back low risk not intermediate risk that Gleason score had.

I mentioned this as my PCP, urologist, and two different R/Os were all concerned with steady rise of PSA not the number it was at. I was technically under the normal (below 4) and I was 76 years old when diagnosed. Have you gotten second opinions? I cannot give medical advise but the PSA numbers you mentioned with saying normal at increasing rates is questionable to not address regardless of number if your PSA is rising and rising.

BPH can cause a higher PSA but it too needs to be addressed and is why the standard PSA test is so valuable as it not only shows your current number but if that number is steadily rising over time.

I was far under your doctors 6.5 PSA norm at age 76 with a 3.75 PSA and I had prostate cancer.

Kind of happy that the discussion has been revived. Still think that bike riding for long periods may have some correlation with elevated PSA and possible over reactions in terms of treatment for some people. The research however indicates that I am wrong……

@jc76 Yes, the Gleason score from the biospy determine at the best level of evidence, the future course of treatment. The PSA is like a check engine light, but #3 in it effectiveness in what's going on or not going on with the gland.

@ozelli
I don' think you are wrong in your opinion.
What my R/O at UFHPTI said to me (he has been doing proton radiation treatments for 20 years) is that everyone bodies are different. Bike riding might not affect the prostate on one person but may on another.

No one's body is exactly like another. How big the prostate is, it's location, fat, muscle, buttocks, bones, they are all different. I was told my prostate would move around if I moved during treatments and they make a specific bed for you to lay in to keep you from moving.

I had gas one day and had to go through a lot more xray and moving me around as gas in my colon was moving prostate. So to think a bike seat digging into your bottom for long times and motion back and forth would not affect prostate in some.

UFHPTI was huge on research. They just got another 25 million dollar federal grant to do long term study of radiation treatments for prostate cancer.

One of the research UFHPTI showed was taking cell protection supplements prior, during and after treatments. It was supplements that are considered oxidation protection, protection of cells, etc. My R/O said one study showed no correlation to protecting cancer cells the other study showed a correlation as would protect cancer cells as well.

UHFPTI aired on the side of saying if it was possible taking supplements could affect radiation treatments success. I am a supplement freak. I had about 6 different supplements I was told not to take. Most radiation treatments are to damage the cells of the PC. Normal cells of the prostate can repair themselves. The PC cancer cannot after damaged and eventually die.

I think the bike riding is a personal thing and personal decision as you know your own personal body make up and how bike riding makes you feel. I know many bike riders who have no issues with pain, discomfort, from race bike seats and others (like me) drives my bottom crazy with a lot of pain.

My PCP a long time ago asked me to refrain from bike riding prior to my PSA tests. As I mentioned I usually ride 20 miles and if I can do something to get a more accurate PSA test for me I chose to follow the advice.

That was the most frustrating part of my treatment (spaceoar, SBRT, ADT). I was told to just continue living my normal life except no biking for six months and from a support group I learned sex would be difficult or impossible. Those are my two favorite "normal life" hobbies 😃 😃 😃

Several friends said that my lifetime of cycling may have caused my prostate cancer but most research doesn't seem to back that up.