Diagnosed at 54, now what?

Hi Mick

Sorry to hear.

You need to go back the the cancer centre and ask for, PSA reading, MRI report and Gleeson score if u have had a biopsy which I assume u have.

No reason why they can't give u that info and then come back here for advice.

All the best 

Steve 

Good Morning Mick (Mick_C )

A warm welcome to the Macmillan online Prostate Community, although I am sorry to find you here. For us to give you the best help and advice I agree with Steve (Grundo) above - We need your Gleason Score, PSA readings and TNM Staging from the biopsy.

In today's world, with a very busy NHS sadly you need to advocate for yourself, You need to contact the Consultant's secretary and ask for an appointment. If you can't get this contact you hospital PALS Office (Patient Advisory and Liaison Service). They should be able to help but not always. If this fails to produce the required appointment do come back to us. Remember to tell them you are aware of the Cancer Pathway timeline and you have anxiety waiting for your appointment.

I do hope this helps - please do let us know how you get on.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Mick_C . These are the latest guidelines on timescales if you are not already aware of them. They were updated in 2023.

In England, the NHS are streamlining 10 existing standards into 3 key cancer waiting time standards with associated targets:  

The 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS) 

The standard: People should have cancer ruled out or receive a diagnosis within 28 days 

NHS target: 75% of people should meet this standard 

Who does it apply to? 

People who have been urgently referred: 

by a GP for suspected cancer  

following an abnormal cancer screening result 

by a GP for breast symptoms (where cancer is not suspected)  

62-day referral to treatment standard 

The standard: People with cancer should begin treatment within two months (62 days) of an urgent referral 

NHS target: 85% of people should meet this standard 

Who does it apply to? 

People with cancer who have been urgently referred: 

by a GP for suspected cancer 

following an abnormal cancer screening result 

By a consultant who suspects cancer following other investigations (also known as ‘upgrades’) 

31-day decision to treat to treatment standard 

The standard: People with cancer should begin their treatment within a month (31 days) of deciding to treat their cancer 

NHS target: 96% of people should meet this standard 

Who does it apply to? 

Anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, including people who have cancer which has returned. 

Thank you, I was unaware of the " cancer timeline" until this? I was diagnosed as having prostate cancer in the 10th March after my MRI, I've had nothing since? My biopsy was planned for today at 0830 and at 08.25 a group of us were informed the clinic was cancelled and noone would be having a biopsy, we were then told that the next appointments were around the 30th May, almost 12 weeks after the MRI confirmation. Then we will need to wait two weeks for the results, so 14 weeks after first getting the news and still no treatment, only confirmation. ️

PSA reading I have, MRI I have, nothing since apart from, we have detected prostate cancer. My reply to the comment below explains the current timeline, 12 weeks between the MRI confirmation and the biopsy

Ok, well as long as PSA is not too high , say under 10-15 and MRI shows contained within the gland then waiting a few more weeks should be ok.

Steve 

Hi Mick_C what is your PSA ? As Grundo says if it’s low you can probably relax a bit, prostate cancer is really slow growing. You could always phone up the dept that deals with the biopsy’s and say you are available for any last minute cancellations. Pretty much every appointment my other half had was a cancellation. We said he would drop everything and be with them within 10-15mins.

L