Prostate biopsy

Hi Wisey and welcome.

One important thing missing, what does the MRI say cos if still in gland then easy to treat.

PSA not massively high and no Gleeson yet

Best wishes 

Steve 

Hello Wisey 

A warm welcome to the Prostate community - although I am so sorry to find you joining us.

So a PSA of 23 - My PSA on diagnosis over 4 years ago was 182 - I am Stage 3, my Prostate has tried to kill me but it's not managed it yet - life is good - click on my avatar or name to read my journey.

PI=RADS 4 - They had a good view of your prostate on the MRI and there's a 40/50% chance of finding you have Prostate Cancer.

I have back ache, my shoulder gave up the other year, I've put on weight, only one of these is connected to Prostate Cancer and it's putting on weight.

Wisey said:

am I just a wimp

No, you are worried. So stop looking at Dr Google, keep planning for the future (98% of men with a Prostate Cancer diagnosis die WITH it not OF it)  and listen to people here who have "been there - got the T shirt".

You need to wait for the full diagnosis - don't try and predict where you are - and once you have a full diagnosis then your team will come up with a treatment plan - and life will revert to the "new normal". Modern treatments are good and improving almost monthly.

If you are still struggling with your mental health please do give our support line a call on 0808 808 00 00 (8am to 8pm 7 days a week) - they are great and can help.

So, sack Dr Google and ask anything here - nothing is too trivial.

Best wishes- Brian.

Hi Wisey,

As Steve says allow the tests to guide your treatment plan. Whilst there is a lot of information around, its best not to speculate instead be guided by your professional team and their assessment of the various tests.

I appreciate waiting is difficult and stressful but at times like this google search can be your enemy.

Best wishes and home your diagnosis is treatable

Alistair 

I really don't understand this blind following of and trust in a professional team. Some yes, but like all jobs some are much better at it than others. Cost considerations lie behind many "decisions", plus the "that's the way we've always done it" school of management syndrome. Certainly once care passes to GPs a complete lottery. And I had a losing ticket.

Good luck, Dave.

No you are not a wimp Wisey . I think many, if not most of us have the darker ‘what if’ thoughts at the start of this journey, particularly at night in my case... It’s only natural when cancer is involved as we only hear negative things about the disease. It does knock your world sideways for a while as tests are completed and you wait for results. However prostate cancer is one of the most survivable cancers. A read of the NICE document on prostate cancer, which is evidence-based, taken from real-world results in the UK, has some surprisingly high 5- and 10-year survival stats. There are now 2nd-generation drugs and cutting-edge radiotherapy and robotic surgery machines available in the NHS. Your PSA is relatively low and Pirads 4 means it’s likely cancer is present and needs treatment. Clocks can’t be turned back to when the PSA was lower. It may feel negative but I think finding it now and not later is a positive thing, and you are already having tests, heading towards the full diagnosis and probably treatment.

If you haven’t already seen it, section 1.3.7 and Box 2 in the NICE document mentioned may help you. This is at:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng131/chapter/Recommendations#localised-and-locally-advanced-prostate-cancer

Good luck with the rest of your tests.

Thanks everone