Cycling UK Forum

It started with blood in my pee after a reasonable 50 mile ride on a very hot day. Then followed a PSA of 65 (No decimal point missing). Quickly progressed to Prostate Cancer with a Gleason score of 3+4, T3a. A robotic Prostatectomy followed.

Now five years further on, officially Cancer free. The PSA tracked at <0.01 at every test. The journey has been a bit bumpy, a blood clot slowed progress a week after surgery, Incontinence was a struggle and to top it all, Percy refused to stand to attention. It turned out the Cancer had had spread outside the prostate, so they had to remove some nerves and nodes, contributing to Percy's lack of discipline. The process of managing Erectile Dysfunction started with using a vacuum pump, moved onto little blue pills of various strengths and more recently, injections directly into ...... (I still wince).

So here we are today, considering an implant. They will fit Percy with two soft plastic "air bags", a liquid filled reservoir in the lower stomach, a finger operated pump/valve in my scrotum and various plumbing to connect them together. So, in a nut shell (literally) a bionic Percy, who stands to attention at the squeeze of the pump.

My dilemma, is having all this junk added to my existing junk, going to affect my ability to ride my bike comfortably? At the age of 63, I ride a bike to keep fit and enjoyment. Sex, doesn't keep me fit.

Have any of you faced the same dilemma and how did it pan out?

Welcome.

I recommend this thread:
"Cycling after Prostatectomy or brachytherapy":
viewtopic.php?t=143335

Jonathan

Thanks for the heads up JDSK. I had read through the thread you suggested previous to me posting this thread.

Unfortunately, it doesn't quite deliver any answers for me. I've had the Radical Prostatectomy, recovered well, got back on the bike with minimal discomfort. I am now considering a radical op to resolve ED.

I've struggled to find anybody with experience of the operation and it's effect on cycling comfort. I guess it's either blokes being blokes and not wanting to talk about ED (I wouldn't be able to approach the subject without this kind of forum) or there are just not that many guys around with bionic percy's.

My concerns are around how much movement would the added plumbing do. I suspect the added equipment would pinch me in areas I don't want to be pinched, so basically my cycling pleasure and fitness would suffer.

My research continues

Kim

How about a recumbent if necessary?

Kim N wrote: ↑10 Apr 2023, 3:25pm It started with blood in my pee after a reasonable 50 mile ride on a very hot day. Then followed a PSA of 65 (No decimal point missing). Quickly progressed to Prostate Cancer with a Gleason score of 3+4, T3a. A robotic Prostatectomy followed.

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year (PSA of 23, Gleason of 7). I had the robotic
'keyhole' surgery (Sep 2022), followed by two weeks wearing a catheter. PSA now 0.1. I too,
am having to use the pump. The good news was that the two nerves that control erections
(that straddled the prostate) were saved, but in manipulating them to access the prostate, it affected the ability to have erections. I was told it could take up to two years for them to return to normal.

I was on Tadafil 20mg twice a week, but was recently put on the same pill @ 5mg every day
to see if that improves things. I'm halfway through the 2-month supply, so it's a wait and see.
I still have to have 3-monthly blood tests (the next one is first week of July). Oh, I'm two years younger than you. Riding and (indoor) rowing back to normal.

De Sisti wrote: ↑29 Jun 2023, 8:22pm Riding and (indoor) rowing back to normal.

I am five weeks post RALP surgery and awaiting histology results of the operation. I will wait at least twelve weeks before getting back on the bike but I’m interested to know when you felt comfortable returning to the indoor rower.

Thanks

at three score years does it matter?

beardybiker01 wrote: ↑30 Jun 2023, 11:05am

De Sisti wrote: ↑29 Jun 2023, 8:22pm Riding and (indoor) rowing back to normal.

I am five weeks post RALP surgery and awaiting histology results of the operation. I will wait at least twelve weeks before getting back on the bike but I’m interested to know when you felt comfortable returning to the indoor rower.

Thanks

I had the operation on 11th September, and went on the Concept2 rower (for gentle 500 metre sessions) during the first week of November. Short, flat 25 mile rides followed a few days later.

Post-op weeks 1 - 5 were incredibly painful. Keyhole surgery is not tiny incisions in the body.
It is more like, say, knife wounds. I had six of them in my stomach area, each incision about an
inch in length (each one closed by three staples). Once the staples were removed, the pain management became a bit easier.

foxyrider wrote: ↑30 Jun 2023, 11:09am at three score years does it matter?

I guess you are maybe younger, and with no health matters? Surely you know the answer.

De Sisti wrote: ↑30 Jun 2023, 5:44pm I had the operation on 11th September, and went on the Concept2 rower (for gentle 500 metre sessions) during the first week of November. Short, flat 25 mile rides followed a few days

Thanks for the reply. I didn’t have clips I had dissolvable stitches so fortunately only discomfort.

Kim N wrote: ↑10 Apr 2023, 3:25pm.
My dilemma, is having all this junk added to my existing junk, going to affect my ability to ride my bike comfortably? At the age of 63, I ride a bike to keep fit and enjoyment. Sex, doesn't keep me fit.

Have any of you faced the same dilemma and how did it pan out?

I presume you have seen this forum?

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/ ... nced=false