Hi,
This is my first time here on the forum and basically at this stage I'm in need of some advice. I'm a 61 year old male who has recently had a PSA (Prostate) blood result which is slightly above normal but was enough for my Doctor to send me on a "urgent 2 week referal" for an MRI. The MRI took place one week ago and, although I have not been given any results from it, today I received a letter (via NHS web page) saying that I need to attend an appointment in 7 days time at the local Urology department where I need to see a particular nurse (nemed in the letter). It says nothing more about the appointment. Of course this set alarm bells ringing so I decided to search the Internet for this nurse by name. I immediately found her and what she does. (She is described on my local hospital's Facebook page).
I found that she is a "MacMillan Nurse" who specialises in Prostate Cancer. Can someone advise me if this is likely to mean that I have Prostate Cancer in some shape or form? Or is this sort of appointment normal after an MRI? Would I be booked to see a MacMillan Nurse even if it was not cancer? For instance, just because it says she is a MacMillan Nurse on the hospital website, could she be seeing me for some other ("less serious") reason?
I know I need to wait and see and I appreciate that there may not be a simple answer to what I am asking here, but I am already in a sorry state over this just through finding out who the nurse is and what she does and my wife is completely shattered by it - which breaks my heart.
In the absence of anybody I can talk to in person who has any knowledge of these circumstances, I guess I just want some realistic thoughts from anyone who has experience of this kind of thing. And that is what has brought me here.
Hi Thirl and a very warm welcome to the Macmillan Community but sorry to hear about your ongoing investigations.
I have lived and been treated for a rare incurable blood cancer for over 24 years but late last year I had to have a colonoscopy as I had some blood in my recent bowel screening teats - the results were fine but showed an enlarged Prostate and my PSA was up so I was booked for MRI.
Following my MRI I had a call from the Urology Unit Nurse who was a Macmillan Nurse but he also did all the Prostate biopsies, they wanted to do a biopsy out of due diligence.
The same nurse did the biopsy a week later and I went to see the Urologist a few weeks later where he said there was no Prostate Cancer but as I was in 67 they would advice my GP to do 6 monthly blood tests just to keep an eye…… so I am saying don’t jump to conclusions.
The Community is divided into dedicated Cancer Specific Support Groups (Discussion Rooms) so can I recommend you join and post in our dedicated Prostate Cancer support group. This is a safe place to talk to others whi have walked the same path, to ask questions and get support.
To connect in with the group click on this link> Prostate cancer then once the group page opens click on “Click to Join” when the black banner appears or “Join” under “Group Tools” (this all depends on the device you are using)
When you are ready you can introduce yourself by clicking “+new” or “+” in the top right next to the group title. You can copy and paste the text from this post into your new post.
The Macmillan Support Line is open 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00. This service provides cancer information, practical information, emotional support or just a listening ear.
Do get back to me if you need further help navigating the community.
Oer my 24 years living with my incurable cancer I have had a number of 'other things' that had to be checked out....... none were cancer........ honestly my view now is 'it's not cancer until someone actually sit's me down and says it is'
All the very best.
