Cycling during hormone therapy

User

Posted 25 Jun 2021 at 14:34

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

My question is about the hydrogel implant that I'm getting next week in preparing for my first radiotherapy session on 20th July. Does anyone have any experience with cycling after getting the hydrogel spacer?

I haven't seen anyone talk about that before.

_____

Two cannibals named Ectomy and Prost, all alone on a Desert island.

Prost was the strongest, so Prost ate Ectomy.

User

Posted 12 Jan 2023 at 17:22

I have the Hydrogel spacer. I was told not to ride the bike (even stationary) for three months. I can do everything else, gym, walk, run, etc but the fear is the pressure on the perineum puts pressure on the prostate and the gel might shift, rendering it less useful for the job it needs to do.

I'd be keen to hear if others have received this advice.

User

Posted 07 May 2023 at 16:43

Hi. I can’t seem to get an answer to this either. The surgeon (very senior) didn’t condemn it, but didn’t say ‘yes that’s fine’ . I guess no one wants to be cited if things go wrong. The radiographer also happy to recommend exercise, but told me to refer back to the surgeon for the cycling issue. I’m beginning to think no one knows, so it’s up to us to use common sense. I may do some gentle rides but am loosing the will a bit. RT in three weeks, so may stick to walking for now. Nothing will stop me once it’s over and done with though.

User

Posted 07 May 2023 at 17:10

Orbea, if you have having normal radiotherapy there is no reason to avoid cycling before or during your treatment. If, as the treatment progresses, you experience urinary hesitation / retention due to the prostate swelling, you can stop cycling until it settles down.

If you are having brachytherapy or the spacer gel, best to avoid cycling for a while afterwards.

Regardless of treatment, you can help yourself by buying a prostate friendly saddle - available from most well-known stores!

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 07 May 2023 at 17:29

I have recently returned to cycling - a month earlier than recommended. I have been off the bike for over 5 months. The first three were supposedly for protection of SpaceOAR gel whilst getting EBRT. After that I was told to stay off the bike for another three months once I had the low dosage brachytherapy done. I have gotten on the bike a month early because it was making me depressed watching the fat increase and knowing my muscle mass was deceasing along with a complete change in body shape. I tried walking (which I still do) but hate running. Anyway the result is that my mind is over the moon at being back on the bike! However I have lost a great deal of fitness and am completely exhausted after a gentle 15 mile ride. I have a long way to go. Interestingly, if you do lots of research about cycling and brachytherapy you find not one bit of clinical evidence to support doctors telling you stay off the bike for three months. Most of the suggestions are simply to wait for a few weeks until it is comfortable to sit on the saddle.

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