Post External Beam Radiation Urinary Stricture Questions

Mark

My friend had SBRT, a form of radiation. He had an inability to pee after treatment and had to have a catheter. His prostate size was large going in. Apperently the prostate swells after treatment, then atropies over time, so now he is doing fine. At the time he also received a medication to help him pee. I think that it might have been rapaflo (I am not sure of the drug name).

I cannot comment on what diet is appropriate for stricture, however your diet is both heart healthy and prostate cancer friendly.

It may take two months for improvements on radiation proctitis/cystitis after RT of the prostate. This may be the reason behind your doctor's suggestion. You need to give up bicycling to allow healing of the area too. In fact, the previous high PSA (25 ng/ml) could have origins in your cycling life style along the years, which may also have placed into jeopardy the muscle tissues of regional organs (bladder, prostate, colon penis, testis, etc). I am not so sure but I think that avoiding medicines that thinner the blood (Ibuprofen, aspirin, etc) is better for faster natural healing at inner wounds.

 Please note that we are not doctors. You better get a second opinion from a radiologist instead of an urologist.

Welcome to the board.

Best wishes for fast recovery.

VG

Physical exercise in moderation is recommended for fast healing of affected tissues. It also may relieve stress which is behind the fatigue in tissues. Exercising provides much needed oxygen to the inflammation. However, exercise in excess can work the other way and be damaging. Cycling involves much massaging of pelvic muscles creating inflammation. Surely too much cycling could have a negative effect on tissues already under inflamation by radiation. I would think that your doctor's recommendation was to do it moderately, but what does moderation mean in a guy that have bicycle all his life.

There have been studies on this theme that links cycling to problems in the pelvis, most particular to the initiation of testicle and prostate cancer. It all relates to too much massage of local inner muscles (the prostate shell) creating inflammation. Please read this advice at a famous Cycling magazine;

"... Prostatic inflammation: Repetitive compression and trauma to the perineum, leading to recurrent inflammation of the prostate, has been reported to be higher in cyclists. Chronic inflammation is known to be a risk factor for malignancy."

Here is the full story:

http://www.cyclingweekly.com/fitness/essential-guide-to-prostate-health-for-cyclists-234445

Other news on the matter;

https://www.nhs.uk/news/cancer/cycling-linked-to-prostate-cancer-but-not-infertility/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/9110824/Cycling-increases-warning-signs-of-prostate-cancer.html

I am sorry if my comments made you worry or let down your enjoyment in bicycling as described in your first post "... used to commute by bicycle 30 miles per day before retirement, but continuing bicycling now in retirement ...". I am not a doctor so that you need to get the opinion from experts in regards to continuing cycling while in recovery. In your shoes I would exchange cycling with another physical exercise till full recovery.

Best wishes,

VGama

that have if such a nflamation of muscle tissues affaect