Cyclists and prostate cancer

I don't buy that bicycles cause cancer argument. 1 in 6-8 men will get it and bet we are 1000's to 1 that regularly ride bicycles. It is a genes gone bad disease possibly caused by environment or diet. Me? I don't know anything but do love riding my mountain bike on single tracks.

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.

@drcopp Gleason 6 is great for active monitoring, and congratulations on your history. I was diagnosed with Gleason 7 after PSA 6.4 at age 73, but two friends were diagnosed with PC after having PSAs of 4 or lower. All the best!

@scottbeammeup Yes, I find biking difficult because of chronic diarrhea following radiation and with ongoing ADT. I can't be very far from a bathroom at any time, especially mornings. I'm one of Walmart's best Imodium customers. I didn't have any instruction otherwise about cycling. I miss sex, too, but Trimix injections caused painful erections, defeating the purpose. I may try Bimix.

I believe there are multiple threads on this subject on this forum. I was quite engaged with it a couple of years ago after my lapro RP. Unfortunately a different cancer diagnosis diverted my attention to that as the PC (knocking on wood)) seems to be under control... but as an "avid" mountain biker (competitive multi-day stage races, coach, daily rider on steep, technical terrain...) I was super-concerned about this! Was my whole (almost) hobby life at risk!? Anyways, since August 2023, and after what seemed like a long, arduous recovery period (which never really ends), I have been back on the bike for more than a year and have travelled to some high-altitude destinations for some great riding. There are some good products out there to help anatomically-speaking for cyclists - I will suggest several of the BEST products I have come across and use to legitimately relieve or remove pressure from the perineum when cycling. The first are saddle recommendations: THE most comfortable (and pressure-relieving) saddles I have found are: "Ninety-K" brand - I am riding on the "Nirvana" - but there are many models depending on your cycling preferences (road, tri, gravel, MTB, etc.) ALL are crazy comfortable - some have full center-line channels to transfer pressure to sit bones vs perineum - Awesome! "SQ Labs" also makes some great saddles! But one product you might never think of or have heard of, is the "Aenomaly Switchgrade". It is mainly a mountain bike product (but could be for gravel or even mixed terrain riding). It actually (and effectively) allows you to change the angle of your seat on the fly. It has 3-position settings - designed to put you at the most efficient angle, but also with the least pressure on sensitive areas, depending upon the terrain (i.e., climbing, flat, or descending). It is a well-made, robust accessory that attaches to most seat posts (there is compatibility guide and multiple models on their website). Anyways, I have found these to be great "mitigators" on my return to cycling post-surgery and going forward - probably good for "prevention" too! If there is another thread you think this might belong on - please share! My best wishes to everyone on this journey. It gets better!

I too would like to see the science on bicycle riding and PC. Anecdotally, my father and brother didn't/don't ride and got PC much younger than I did and I have 10's of thousand of miles on a bike. The science, to my mind, seems to suggest it is about genetics.

@drcopp

My PSA was 1 or less until a year ago at age 82 it was 11. Biopsy showed 4 out of 16 spots positive for cancer with the highest at a Gleason 4 +4. Most of the data I have seen shows much lower PSA increases with age than your data. My problem was that my lady doctor followed government data and stopped PSA testing because i was over 70. Big mistake as proven by prostate deaths increasing by 90% since the government mandate around 2014.

@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!

@mtb63
Great post and extremely informative and helpful.

I have a special no tongue seat on my hybrid bike but race seats on my race training and race bikes.

My hybrid bike seat is getting ready to have to change out. I highlighted and copied your suggestion on seats and going to explore those seats.

Thanks for posting that information.

@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.