MRI results

Hi Sasha and welcome 

No , MRI can't say it's definitely cancer , a biopsy is needed for that.

But MRI can give an indication, ie something  suspicious , can.indicate size and location in the gland.

So important to get the MRI results, suggest you come back on here when u have them for more advice.

All the best 

Steve 

Hello Sasha (Sasha) 

The MRI scan is part of the diagnostic process. The images produced help the team decide on the next course of action and the scan will have given dads's team a Likert (Or PI-RADS) score of between 1-5. Details in this link

Diagnostic-tests/multiparametric-mri-scan.

A score of 1 or 2 means cancer is unlikely. A 3 need more investigation and a 4 or 5 usually means that cancer is present in the gland. With Dad's PSA being 69 I would anticipate a score of 4 or 5 and he will need a prostate biopsy to stage and grade the cancer. I would also expect a bone scan to see if the cancer has left the gland.

You may well have many questions for tomorrow so if you have a written list it will help you. Here's a link for you to gather your thoughts:

Questions-to-ask-your-healthcare-team.

Have dad's telephone on speaker and remember your pen and paper.

Do let us know how you get on.

Best wishes - Brian.

I got a call just to say the MRI found some changes that required further investigation and a date for a biopsy. No further information was provided. And I didn’t think to ask. 

There should also be a follow up letter by post. It would also be available in the NHS app.

Maybe a good idea if you are at the same surgery as your dad to ask if you can manage (view dad’s) medical information on your nhs app. 

If additional information is not offered and you would like to know more. Ask about the PIRAD score and size of any suspicious area. 

A PIRAD 4 or 5 it’s more likely to be a concern than PIRAD 1-3. I’m not medical qualified, but I think a PIRAD 1-3 is unlikely, the PSA is high at 69 so be prepared to have a high PIRAD score. 

Not a lot of difference between a 4 and 5. Size above 15mm would likely be scored a PIRAD 5.

You could check what type of biopsy would be done, likely a local anaesthetic transperineal biopsy. Targeted at the areas identified in the MRI and possibly a grid sample to cover the prostate. It’s not pleasant, but not a difficult process.

Best of luck to you and your dad.

I haven't heard of the NHS app. I will look into this. We are not with the same surgery but at the moment my dad is struggling to take care of himself. The hospital are phoning me for appointment so it may be worth me looking into this. They don't do appointments via mail just phone calls to myself. 

There a few things going on with him memory, understanding seems ok some days and not so good other days. I'm sole career which is difficult as I can only go down in the evening I am working full time with 3 teenagers so difficult but we get through it. 

Thank you for your response. Its a really hard when you wanted answers yesterday. Hopefully we will know a little bit more tomorrow. 

I do have lots of questions but I doesn't sound like they can really answer them until further testing is done. 

Thank you so much for this information this will help me for tomorrow. I do have a lot of questions but by the sounds of it I don't think I will have the answers until further testing is done. 

I do think there more going on than prostate. Memory , understanding , self care is not being done. The GP has told me they won't look into this until we know what going on elsewhere as this is urgent the others are not. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply 

Hi 

I was going to message yesterday my head was shot tbh. MRI has confirmed cancer is present inside and starting on the outside I have no idea what the means. Down for biopsy end of Jan and if there is any cancellations dad will be called in. 

They don't need to do a bone scan due to having a full MRI and this hasn't picked up any other abnormalities.

I had questions but I think even though part of me knew they were going to say it I just went blank and couldn't speak. 

I am scared for dad and what next steps will be but I'm trying very hard to stay positive.

Kind Regards 

Sasha 

Hello Sasha (Sasha ) 

Let me say at the outset Prostate Cancer is very treatable and 98% of men with a diagnosis die WITH it not OF it.

From what you have told us from the MRI scan, dad has prostate cancer and the cancer is in the gland and it looks to have broken through the gland BUT it hasn't spread anywhere.

The Prostate Biopsy will give a staging and grading to the cancer and will enable dad's team to come up with a treatment plan - most likely at this stage a combination of Hormone Therapy and Radiotherapy.

Details of the biopsy are in this link:

The trans-perineal-biopsy.

From what we know at present this should lead to a "curative pathway" for dad.

Do keep asking questions, nothing is too trivial, and keep us posted with dad's progress.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Sasha , this is a very scary time but the more tests, the clearer it becomes and things do get better.  So, from what you have said, the MRI has found something inside and outside the prostate.  We can’t be sure it is cancer, but there is a high likelihood that it is.  In order to confirm if it is cancer or benign a biopsy is required.  This isn’t a very nice procedure but doesn’t last long.

Once a ‘spread’ is detected, surgery to remove the prostate is pointless but hormone therapy (HT) and radiotherapy (RT) become the standard treatments.  If cancer has spread too far it is deemed to be metastatic and is treatable but not curable.  However, in you dads case, there is nothing to suppose that it is a major spread and therefore might be in the curable range.  I was put into the treatable category 8 years ago.

The time between MRI  and biopsy result is a very difficult time.You know there is something and it’s natural to fear the worst. There will be sleepless nights. We are here when they do. 

You all be amazing from my first message and going forward thank you all so much for your support. 

I am glad I took dad as he was stubborn and wasn't really happy to get looked at but I could see a huge weightloss in a short space of time. 

I go down every night to get food down him and he on nutro shakes I don't see weight gain but this may be due to me going there every night. I felt awful when I seen him after me being stubborn and trying to make him do stuff for himself but Im not going anywhere now. I will carry on making sure he is eating and getting the medical help he needs. 

I am trying to think positively and from listening to you all. Thank you so much for your support and help. I honestly appreciate every message you have send.

I will update again when I know more information or if I start over thinking things. 

Thank you 

Sasha