Out and about earlier this week dusk was gathering and I’d begun packing up. I noticed passing cyclists were begining to gather just out of sight. Hearing their voices I hesitated but in the end decided to approach them, after all that is why I’m out there. Mike, Phil, Rob and AJ are obviously keen cyclists, a couple of them had Middleton CC tops on. I introduced myself and explained what Clean up Prostate Cancer was all about. They accepted a leaflet each. Mike seemed particularly interested and it was he who invited me to go along to a meeting of Southport Cycle Club one Monday evening. For me this is like one of the Golden Tickets. I will very definitely be in touch.
Speaking with the lads gave me the opportunity to pass on some essential advice Tom was given by Mr Parr, his Urologist. Cyclists need to be aware that they should stop cycling for about 5 days before having the PSA blood test. The PSA is not a perfect measure but it is the most accessible means of indicating the presence of cancer we have at the moment. Cycling tends to raise the reading artificially and could distort the accuracy of the results. I’m guessing but I imagine men who enjoy time on exercise bikes or spinning need to know about this too.
I need to stress cycling does not change the base PSA, it only the distorts the recorded levels temporarily
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