Galico

One year and 6 days ago I had radical prostate cancer surgery. I had started riding 1 year previous to this and my PSA was already elevated so cycling had nothting to do with my cancer. It was detected very early.
My big concern was that because of cycling I was in the best shape of my life at age 51, and I knew the healing process would restrict me from sitting on that US Postal Minimal seat of mine. In 7 weeks I got on the stationary recumbent and started to peddle. I lasted about 10 minutes before I felt some pain. I increased my time by a couple of minutes daily and within a week I spun for about 30 minutes. I got on my bike a surprisingly my bottom did not hurt, but I had no energy and lasted only 5 miles. In less than a week however I was able to go 20 miles and finished 5000 miles for the year. Any questions about prostate cancer I would be glad to answer

Bockman

What is the best screening test?

Trsnrtr

I had a radical prostatectomy on May 1, 2003 at the age of 52. My doctor let me ride a recumbent at 6 weeks to the day and a road bike at 12 weeks. I finished 2003 with 3000 miles and rode 6000 in 2004. I enjoyed recumbents so much that I sold all of my road bikes except for the tandem my wife and I ride.

bunabayashi: Screening is done through PSA blood tests and a DRE (digital rectal exam). My cancer was actually found, or suspected, by my family doctor with a DRE, despite having PSA tests every year by my urologist. After reporting it to my urologist, I was tested and had a PSA that had changed 150% in less than a year. A biopsy and sonogram confirmed the cancer. I now am on a 6 month schedule of PSA and DRE. I'm sure Galico is on a similar testing schedule.

Get those checkups!

-Dennis

Guest

You go, guys!

Congrats on your good health after such a terrible health problem! My father is not doing so well after his prostatectomy and subsequent radiation therapy. But you guys give me hope that at some point, things will turn around for him too.

Koffee

skydive69

Great going!!

Galico

My tumor was first suspected from a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test as part of a physical when I turned 50. I underwent 3 biopsies before the cancer was detected. Each biopsy consisted of 10 samples of the prostate (this procedure really ruins your day). In two samples of the 3rd biopsy(now 12 months had passed and PSA keep rising) a malignancy was detected. If you have trouble urinating, if your stream is poor and you frequently have to get up at night to pee you most likely have some form of prostatitis that could indicate cancer.
If you ever pass blood in your urine don't mess around go to the Doctor. Get your tests every year once your past 50. If detected early you will live-if goes out of the prostate your chance of it killing you goes up logarithmically and it is a bad death.
I understand that as of the last few months there is a new procedure that is not as nearly invasive. There is not a 6 inch belly incision and recovery is a matter of weeks not months.
Don't mess around with this Malady.
Steve

Trsnrtr

Sorry to hear it. Many of the complications from surgery abate with time, but it can take months. Putting aside the prostatectomy side effects, I didn't really feel 100% for about 7 months.

Just today, my father-in-law was told that he was going to have a combined prostate, bladder, and partial colon removal due to cancer. While I meditate on his behalf, I'll think a few thoughts for your father, too.

Guest

Unfortunately, it's been years. He's had complications since about 1999.

Koffee

stapfam

I had no symptoms whatsoever, but at age of 54 a DRA and Psa Test. Psa of 16, which is high enough to worry about. A Biopsy of 6 tests, all proved positive, 3 months later, and Radical Prostatectomy, (Surgery to remove Prostate). 6 weeks later sat on a saddle, and got off it like a rocket.That hurt. 2 weeks later and 30 miler offroad. 18 months later and cycling going nowhere so set a target for a big ride. 6 months to get fit and it was kill or cure for cycling. Got the fitness and enthusiasm back and still in training for next years ride.

Worrying part is there is a misconception ( or is it fact) that Cycling brings on Prostate cancer. I know of 6 other PCa sufferers, none of whom ride a bike. I know several over 50 riders, and none have PCa. Most know of non cyclists that have it, but no cyclists. What are your views on this question of Does Cycling cause Prostate Cancer?

Incidentally, I am certain that Cycling Gave me the Fitness to get over a bypass I had in 99 and the PCa in 2001. Certainly a couple of years I would like to forget.

(Edit) I ought to add a postscript here. The only part of the body that caused problems while cycling was the Saddle area. I used to use a Flite Titanium saddle,(Thge thin Razor blade type), and could not get on with it, tried various saddles but have now settled on the newer Flite titanium that has a cutout for the pelvic bone and a little Gel insert. That Cut out certainly helped, but on the Tandem went to a Selle Italia Transam-- The womans version. Extra width and cushioning helps when you are sitting down for extended periods.

DnvrFox

I have never, ever heard of this before - not in any cycling group I have participated in. Where did you hear this?

stapfam

Have heard it on The PC forum www.prostate-cancer.org.uk and it has been muted by several non cycling PC Sufferers. My only facts point to the Contrary, as I do not know of cyclists with PCa and the 6 PCa sufferers I know are non cyclists. In fact there is a current thread that raises this very topic.

Trsnrtr

My urologist says no. Of course, he's a cyclist so one could say he's a little biased, however, one could also say that because he is a cyclist he is very informed on any research literature involviing cyling and cancer.

-Dennis

Galico

I think that you are genetically prone to PCa and all the garbage the we eat, drink , smoke , breath finds it way into your body and gets you somewhere and somehow. As I stated in my case my cancer was there before I started cycling.
I would let you know that when you are scheduled to have a PSA test, do not ride your bike for 24 hrs prior becuase the stimualtion of the seat will raise your level. So will sex and don't let them take blood for the test after you have had a digital check, that will raise your PSA. Blood test first, then physical.
I asked my Doc what my PSA would be after my biopsie and he said in the thousands.
Cyling can exacerbate the condition of prostititus and as the above coments show saddle selection can greatly reduce that problem.
My cycling made it so I healed much faster than normal. I was out of bed in the hospital walking the halls 10 hours after surgery. I keep walking the next day and night in the halls. I had my MP3 player on listening to my tunes (M and M, Van Halen, Bob Wills, Dave Brubeck, Neil Young, Queen and Rigelleto) and was able to get home on morning 3. The doctors said in my follow ups that I was way ahead of the healing curve due to my cycling conditioning.
I pray for all of you have loved ones facing cancer. Prostate for me was the best cancer I could get because it was early detection and so far clean. My friends and relatives who face what Lance went through have it hard and those yellow wrist bands really mean alot.

skydive69

Galico:

Perhaps a delicate subject, but how did you do vis-a-vis impotence and incontinence. PC has always been my biggest fear in that I watched my Grandfather die of the disease. Yesterday, I finished a book by Joe Henderson which was a remembrance of my good friend and teammate, Dr. George Sheehan who died from PC. It was sad to read how the man had difficulty climbing one step in the latter stages of the disease. I wanted to remember him as the man that I once paced to an American age group record for 1500 meters.

Galico

Doing real well. First-had nerve saving technique, this is an advantage of early detection. Any indication that the cancer is outside the prostate the nerve is toast. Incontinence: some especially when I drink Vodka or am tired but generally better all the time. The big question to me was how good a seamstress is your physician. It is hard to find out but I did. Interestingly my Urologist was a testicular cancer victim at age 14. He was one of the first guys to have the Platinum Chemo that saved Lance.

skydive69

Thanks for sharing. Cancer is certainly a life changing experience. I am a malignant melanoma survivor. Mine was missed by an idiot Phyicians Assistant, and remained on my body for over a year. By the time it was diagnosed, it was a level 4, but amazingly it did not metastisize. I read that certain people have a gene that prevents the metastisizing of melanomas. I have a PSA, BTW, every 6 months.

Galico

Skydive69 Keep the Faith. Thanks for your input.

skydive69

I shall, and meanwhile I won the club sprint today at the tender age of 65!

Bop Bop

Just read this on MSNBC.com. Maybe someday, someone will find the magic bullet.
https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6851656/

skydive69

That really is very old information. Interestingly, when a friend of mine went to Sloan Kettering with metastisized Melanoma, he saw the head of oncology. His only supplement recommendation was to take green tea extract. BTW, he beat the cancer after extensive chemo, etc.

Galico

Skydive69 :Nice job on the race. I guess I will have to get hooked up with a group and start riding in some events other than the big centuries I do.

skydive69

Thanks Galico - sometimes I almost wish I didn't have such a competitive spirit, but I have the need to chase down everthing, including a car that I was racing through my neighborhood the other day! I must sheepishly admit to exceeding the strictly enforced speed limit of 25 by about 10 mph.

John E

That IS the fundamental question. My wife lost her thyroid gland to cancer 13 years ago, and because we were able to identify a superb local ear-nose-throat specialist, Mario Yco, she suffered no surgical side-effects.

A big thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread.