PSA test and bike riding after Prostatectomy

Posted by firespooks @firespooks, Jul 15, 2023

I had a Prostatectomy in 2006. My one doctor said I still should avoid bike riding a few days before my regular PSA blood tests. Has anyone else ever heard of this , since I no love have a Prostate? 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Yes, I've been an avid biker for 25 years. I actually experimented before I was diagnosed with PC. There are several things that can increase PSA regardless of your number. I have had a PSA test after riding earlier that day, and it was a point higher than when I did not ride, one month later. It's not definitive, being that there are other factors a play. However, it was enough to convince me.

REPLY
@philipbrachko

Yes, I've been an avid biker for 25 years. I actually experimented before I was diagnosed with PC. There are several things that can increase PSA regardless of your number. I have had a PSA test after riding earlier that day, and it was a point higher than when I did not ride, one month later. It's not definitive, being that there are other factors a play. However, it was enough to convince me.

Jump to this post

During active surveillance, I had a similar experience, going from 4.7 to 3.8 in a PSA follow-up after
riding for 4 days.

Now I'm 3 months post surgery, have not yet had a chance to see the effect.

REPLY

I have heard bike riding may effect PSA as well, but I had no idea until AFTER I was diagnosed with PC.. I bike every day as long as the weather is reasonable … The rides aren’t long, but they are vigorous and get the blood flowing… I experimented by stopping my rides for about a week before I had a PSA test coming.. PSA went up anyway… 6 months later, I decided I was not going to sacrifice my bike riding for my scheduled PSA test and my PSA results came in 2 points lower… Go figure… Next PSA test is in early September and I’m not stopping the rides… Hoping nothing crazy happens…

REPLY

I wonder if the same could be true for riding a Harley and three months post and started riding my Harley with gel filled shorts and a gel filled seat on the Harley. I have a PSA in two months.

REPLY

My husband had robotic prostatectomy in June. His 3 month PSA was basically non existent. The surgeon told him you scored the home run, go live your life. So, we bought e-bikes. I ride a lot, he fits it in between golf a couple times a week. He has his 2nd PSA check on Dec 29. Should he not be biking, or for just a certain amount of time before the test is done?

REPLY
@jwoy

My husband had robotic prostatectomy in June. His 3 month PSA was basically non existent. The surgeon told him you scored the home run, go live your life. So, we bought e-bikes. I ride a lot, he fits it in between golf a couple times a week. He has his 2nd PSA check on Dec 29. Should he not be biking, or for just a certain amount of time before the test is done?

Jump to this post

Riding __may__ raise the PSA in a patient with a prostate. I would think it would have no effect on him.
Congratulations to both of you on kicking cancer's ass!

REPLY
@jwoy

My husband had robotic prostatectomy in June. His 3 month PSA was basically non existent. The surgeon told him you scored the home run, go live your life. So, we bought e-bikes. I ride a lot, he fits it in between golf a couple times a week. He has his 2nd PSA check on Dec 29. Should he not be biking, or for just a certain amount of time before the test is done?

Jump to this post

I was told by my one oncologist, not to ride my bike 24 hrs prior to taking my PSA test. Never found out why. I still practice this advice. I’m on my second recurrence. So go figure 🤷‍♂️

REPLY
@jwoy

My husband had robotic prostatectomy in June. His 3 month PSA was basically non existent. The surgeon told him you scored the home run, go live your life. So, we bought e-bikes. I ride a lot, he fits it in between golf a couple times a week. He has his 2nd PSA check on Dec 29. Should he not be biking, or for just a certain amount of time before the test is done?

Jump to this post

Biking can raise the PSA due to the pressure on the pelvic area (where the prostate is.) So can sex. In both cases, it's probably more likely with extensive vigorous activity than more limited casual activity, but who really knows. It's just an association. If there were more cowboys, we might know that hard riding of horses had a similar association?! Pole dancing? Gymnastic pommel horse? Anyway, you get the drift.
Without the prostate, there is less PSA, but also less data. Who really knows if biking has any effect. If you did a long bike ride and got a higher PSA, you could always retest without the biking or other strenuous activities involving the pelvic area and see if it's lower. Or vice versa.
I suppose if you want to minimize PSA "shedding," you could spend a couple days laying in bed or on the beach?! before each PSA test. I kind of like that. A "medically necessary" couple days laying on the beach or by the pool. I definitely think you should do this with your husband @jwoy . You heard it here, on this unauthoritative forum. It might also lower blood pressure?!

REPLY
@spino

Biking can raise the PSA due to the pressure on the pelvic area (where the prostate is.) So can sex. In both cases, it's probably more likely with extensive vigorous activity than more limited casual activity, but who really knows. It's just an association. If there were more cowboys, we might know that hard riding of horses had a similar association?! Pole dancing? Gymnastic pommel horse? Anyway, you get the drift.
Without the prostate, there is less PSA, but also less data. Who really knows if biking has any effect. If you did a long bike ride and got a higher PSA, you could always retest without the biking or other strenuous activities involving the pelvic area and see if it's lower. Or vice versa.
I suppose if you want to minimize PSA "shedding," you could spend a couple days laying in bed or on the beach?! before each PSA test. I kind of like that. A "medically necessary" couple days laying on the beach or by the pool. I definitely think you should do this with your husband @jwoy . You heard it here, on this unauthoritative forum. It might also lower blood pressure?!

Jump to this post

Splendid advice, I love it!

REPLY
@jwoy

My husband had robotic prostatectomy in June. His 3 month PSA was basically non existent. The surgeon told him you scored the home run, go live your life. So, we bought e-bikes. I ride a lot, he fits it in between golf a couple times a week. He has his 2nd PSA check on Dec 29. Should he not be biking, or for just a certain amount of time before the test is done?

Jump to this post

I bike a lot, 5000 miles a year, on the road, gravel, dirt, home trainer. When I had a prostate, I avoided biking for 48-72 hours before PSA test. Now after removal, I no longer think about the timing of the test in relation to bike rides. All tests after surgery in April this year are undetectable.

The prostate is located in the space which rests on a bike saddle. One study showed a rise in PSA in men who rode within 2 days before a test. Other studies have not shown a correlation. The theory is, pressure on the prostate causes the increased release of the PS antigen. Without a prostate, I don't see why biking should affect the PSA results.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.