Cycling for Prostate Cancer

 In June 2023, I couldn’t ride a bike and was undergoing treatment for Chronic Prostatitis. 

It was therefore an absolute honour and privilege to cycle from London – Southend (96Km) on 21st July 2024 and raise awareness and funds for Chronic Prostatitis and Prostate Cancer.

From the start at beautiful West Ham Park in Newham, East London, we were soon out of town and onto quieter, country roads. Essex was a surprise with its picturesque villages and quiet lanes, winding through gently rolling countryside.

With plenty of stops along the way, it was wonderful to reach the finish in the pretty gardens of Priory Park, Southend after 7 hours 40 minutes with music, refreshments, beer tent and a well-earned medal!

It was also superb to meet the Prost8 UK charity team at the finish line.

For any sufferers of Chronic Prostatitis my message is clear. You can recover and get your life back.

Never, ever give up đź‘Š

Prostate cancer

Even though there are conflicting studies on the connection between prostatitis and prostate cancer, the very high prevalence of both in the male population is something that needs to be examined further.

In 2022, researchers led by the University of East Anglia published sophisticated genetic analyses on the urine and prostate tissue of more than 600 men with and without prostate cancer and found five species of bacteria linked to rapid progression of the disease.

They additionally identified novel species of bacteria after a digital rectal examination (DRE) and under strict and advanced microbiological analysis. How many non-academic labs do their due diligence and have similarly advanced methodologies; how many DREs are performed appropriately prior to the sample submission?

If microbes (and the microbiome) seem to be a statistically significant indicator of prostate cancer, could they also be a causative agent? 

Is there a chance that bacterial prostatitis is actually significantly more prevalent than the generally accepted “15% of prostatitis cases”, but we just don’t identify it appropriately? 

If yes, then we seriously need to reconsider our preventative measures towards prostate cancer, as well as the early diagnostic status quo and its correlation with (untreated) prostatitis.

But what about after Prostate Cancer appears?

Many men who are diagnosed with Prostate Cancer are operated on (part of or the whole of the prostate is removed) very quickly. This is a common occurrence in several western markets such as the USA and UK.

It is however important to assess all available treatment options before agreeing to have surgery completed on your prostate.

Prost8 is a very useful resource for sufferers of prostate cancer, particularly those who have managed to get an early diagnosis.

The website explains how aggressive surgery is not the only option for men diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.

Any man’s goal should be to keep the prostate healthy for as long in life as possible and surgery should only be the solution in more advanced cases of Prostate Cancer.

If your prostate condition has developed into a form of Prostate Cancer, don’t despair, options and alternatives may be available from Prost8.

Sources:

Papers: 

2022: https://euoncology.europeanurology.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2588-9311%2822%2900056-6 

2008: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11934-008-0056-6 

Article:https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/apr/20/discovery-of-bacteria-linked-to-prostate-cancer-hailed-as-potential-breakthroug