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Bicycling while on ADT & radiation okay?
I'm new to ADT (on Orgovyx for 1 month now, abiraterone and prednisone in just the past few days, radiation coming soon). Winter is over around here, and I have four nice bikes (can't have too many) in the shed, wanting to hit the beautiful roads and trails around Washington DC for my usual 40-50 mile rides. I've heard that riding irritates the prostate, including temporary PSA elevation. Is that "irritation" and elevation ignorable, or would I be better off sticking to running and weights from the standpoint of treatment outcomes?
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Nothing is going to irritate the prostate more than being zapped with 50-80 gys of radiation. Exercise is good to help ward off the effects of ADT and radiation. If you can still do 40 miles during treatment more power to you. Check with your RO about this. He will probably say it is fine. The irritation is about elevation of PSA levels for a test so can indicate a false reading. However, you already know you have prostate cancer and the ADT and radiation will soon send your PSA levels close to zero.
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2 ReactionsI was told not to ride my bike until radiation was finished because I had spacer gel and they didn't want it to move. Afterward, I bought padded underwear that I wore underneath my biking shorts, and also a wide seat with a gap in the middle so that the saddle did not press against my fried prostate. Both of these things worked, though for a couple months I had to shorten my rides due to fatigue.
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4 ReactionsThe regular narrow bike seat presses right into the perennial and can cause problems. Get some information from bike riders that commented about this problem.
Bicycle seat that works well with AUS and prostate cancer patients
https://www.hugeoaks.com/products/hugeoaks-width-continuously-adjustable-bike-seat-comfortable-prostate-friendly-bicycle-saddle-for-mountain-bikes-road-bikes-city-bikes-exercise-bikes
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3 ReactionsI continued to ride during radiation but I didn't have a spacer. RO said it would be fine. I ride now and I find it a bit more fatiguing than I use to but that is probably a combination of the radiation (finished 10 months ago) , orgovyx and xtandi (11 months to go on both) and age. I use fizzik saddles on my three bikes with a channel down the middle with no issues.
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2 ReactionsFWIW: I had saved this information from a Dr. John Mulhall interview, who is definitely considered one of the top authorities for sexual function and prostate cancer.
Dr. John Mulhall-the authority on this stuff. He said he studied the pressure on the perineal area and came to these conclusions:
• Cut-out in the seat is rubbish-there's still a lot of forces on the area.
The only seats that make a difference are the nose-less bike seats.
• When you sit on a regular bike seat, you are sitting on your erection arteries
• If you do compression damage, you can cause problems.
• Riding more than 100 miles a week creates a lot of compression forces. So, some people will have penile numbness when they cycle, especially off-road bikers where there is a lot of compression forces.
So, I was going to investigate good noseless bicycle seats.
No Prostate and rode while on radiation and ADT. I do use a seat that is fit to my sit bones so not sitting directly on the perineal area. As much as you ride I suspect your saddle is fit to your body.
@chippydoo Not really. Just a classic leather Brooks B17. I'm accustomed to the first couple of rides every year feeling like they've reshaped my crotch, so I'm not concerned about that. And I don't have SpaceOar this time around. But I do want to avoid any potential for damaging my PCa treatment outcomes (ADT and radiation, for 2 pelvic lymph nodes that lit up on the PET scan). That's the one thing that would keep me off the bike. I'm hoping to see some feedback here (as well as asking my RO, of course).
I hear those that ride Brooks love them. I ride a split Selle that was fitted to me and definitely doesn't hit the prostate or urethra. Takes a week or two for the sit bone muscles and such to get used to it. I've ridden mine for 15-20 years. Used to be a roadie but exclusively MTB today riding 3-5 times a week.
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2 ReactionsGood for you for your commitment to continue riding. Excellent decision and for me it was mandatory. I have ridden Selle SMP saddles for years, I find the dropped nose to add to the comfort. Since my PC diagnosis and treatment 3 years ago I switched to one of SMP’s gel saddles. There are several models with varying seat ergonomics and gel thickness. Seat comfort has not been a problem. Speed and power, I can’t say the same! But I am out there loving it on 40 - 60 milers with an annual century. Ride on and blessings to you.
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3 Reactionsok..you will prob have rectal spacer injected before radiation...so my advice is no riding for 3 weeks after spacer is injected so that you dont move the protective gel out of place...next, I would not ride over 10 miles at a time for now, particularly while you are being radiated and I would wear very padded biking shorts. Also, hydrate ALOT with ADT, especially on hot days...lastly, biking beofe PSA draws will make your PSA higher...all said, I think you can continue to bike, * ( except while spacer gel in settling)..if you notice any blood or extreme pain/discomfort, then stop.. I am a bike too and I hated my hiatus but glad I did it. Radiation can be tricky..side effects show up months down the road sometimes..months after you have finished..exercise is good for managing ADT side effects..just pay attention to what your body is telling you..!
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