MRi Scan two lesions in prostate

Hello Peter

Sorry to hear about the anxiety levels and the lack of sleep! I can only really say, 'welcome to my world' - 2 years in from my husband's diagnosis!!

I am no medical expert but i am an expert in my own anxiety and insomnia. However, I would say that, from what I have gleaned, your results this far look as if you will find yourself on a curative pathway - hope so anyway. A bone scan (or CT or PET scan) will show up any potential secondaries. I have read on this forum of many people who had the CT/PET scan. My husband was only offered the bone scan. He had no secondaries showing on MRI or the bone scan. I wish now we had know about the potential for CT/PET , But, even these cannot detect microscopic cancer cells which might have travelled far and wide across the body. It seems there are no certainties in this journey other than 'uncertainty.'

RE the sleep problem. I can get to sleep very easily. I just can't stay asleep. I had shingles about 2-3 years ago. I recovered completely other than I sometimes have tingling/itching over the area where the blisters were which drives me crazy. I spoke to a pharmacist and she suggested an antihistamine. This controlled the itching but also helped me sleep! I only use them occasionally because if I have had little sleep it does not seem to impact on me during the day. But, if I am just desperate for sleep I use one. I think there is probably an accumulative effect with them in that the more you take the less sleep they provide - hence my infrequent use. There are 'non-drowsy' antihistamines but I buy the 'drowsy' ones! I'm not sure whether antihistamines are particularly safe but, in infrequent use, I suspect as over the counter meds, they can't hold too many risks? Our resident researcher (Always Hope) might be able to shed more light on this?

Re sleeping tablets. Hmmm! I have tried them but they have made me feel absolutely dreadful the next day - depressed, hung over, lethargic  - the lot. Also my surgery told me that in the elderly (what a cheek! I'm only 21 in my mind!!!) they can cause falls leading to broken bones, and dementia.

It seems to me that you are doing absolutely the right thing right now. You are gathering the info you need and you are talking to people. In a world that is seemingly spiralling out of control, you are taking some control. 

Can I recommend that whoever and whenever you speak to any of the medical/admin professionals you speak with as you go along this journey, you take their names and contact details? I kept a diary! This was really useful when chasing up delays in appointments, results etc. I could say. 'on xyz date you said abc'. why have you not actioned this?'

Also, if you don't get timely appointments you have the diary as your evidence. You can also contact your hospital Patient Advice (sometimes called Information) and Liaison service. (PALS or PILS). In addition you can tell them you are prepared to take any last minute cancelled appointments and get to the hospital almsot immediately. this worked for us even though we live 90-120 minutes away  from the hospital

Finally, its important to take ownership of your own journey. It has been said several times on here that those who are politely assertive get their care in a reasonable time. those that just leave it to the 'system' can get overlooked. We, as patients (or partners), are not here to be liked. We are here to be cared for. 

I hope this helps and I hope you can gradually come down from that state of high anxiety.

HTH 

Hi 

Thanks again ,hope your sleeping is OK thsts for all the information it's very much appreciated  the diary idea is one I'll do for sure my partner is very good keeping track of things  

Thank you again 

I had a PSA of 8 and was put on a treatment pathway straight away, luckily I've had the prostate removed and the cancer hasn't spread. After the biopsy I was told it was cancer straight away. 

Hopefully it sounds like it will be ok with treatment, best wishes for the future 

Hi 

Thank you, That's good news  did you have the bone scan straight away  ?

I had a bone scan within a week of the MRI

Oh ok I had my mri scan last Friday no mention of a bone scan for me as of yet

Actually I've realised I had the MRI in August then a month till the biopsy then a bone scan quickly after the biopsy. I got my dates mixed up. So if you don't need a biopsy you might not need a bone scan

My biopsy is on the 6th November so will probably have a bone scan

Just read on my letter from urology that they think there is a 66.9 % chance of finding clinically significant prostate cancer would i be right saying they mean it's aggressive ? Not good 

No it does not imply that it is aggressive. Clinically significant just means that it is a cancer which will need to be either monitored or treated. The biopsy is the key test for deciding whether the cancer has any aggressive features. There are different types of prostate cancer dependent on how the cells look under the microscope. The size of the anomaly plus the position of it within the gland, how near it is to the capsule edge all paint a picture of how to initially treated it and how well that treatment is likely to work in the long term.