I'm interested in conversations about and I want to talk about
Know exactly what you want?
Show search

Notification

Error

MRI scan question

Email this conversation Print this conversation
User
Posted 22 Oct 2015 at 14:17

Hi

First time post

I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer on 7th Oct with a Gleason level of 6 and have an appointment with the Oncologist and Urologist on 6th Nov to discuss treatment options.  As I am relatively young at 48 (nice to be called young!) I have been told the recommendation may well be treatment rather than surveillance.  My question is would you expect me to have a MRI scan prior to the 6th Nov appointment to ascertain whether the cancer is localised or spread as I would have thought this would affect any treatment decisions? Many thanks

User
Posted 22 Oct 2015 at 14:46

Hi Tones,

The urologist / oncologist probably have enough to go on with your Gleason score, PSA result and results of the biopsy, to outline the treatment options when you see them on the 6th. Have your PSA and biopsy results been explained to you by one of the care team?

For me, it was only when I had considered the options and chose surgery that I was given an MRI scan (as the surgeon wanted to know what he was dealing with). Other health care trusts might differ.

Flexi

 

 

 

 

User
Posted 22 Oct 2015 at 15:43
Hi Tones

Gleason stage 6 is regarded as a low risk of spread hence possibly why no MRI scan.

Ray

User
Posted 22 Oct 2015 at 16:34

Hi Tones,

I'm no expert, but would have thought it highly unlikely they would carry out surgery if that was to be your chosen treatment path without an MRI scan first....

I elected for surgery and was Gleason 6 at the time, but it was subject to a 'satisfactory' MRI scan before I was referred.

Have they given you a clinical T staging yet?..... If they have,it may well be revised after an MRI scan

Luther

User
Posted 22 Oct 2015 at 18:49

oHi Tones

I received the MRI scan because my biopsy came back with a Gleason score of 9.

I have not had the options put to me yet, these will come next Tuesday when I meet the consultants. but it looks like surgery route for me unless there is a spread outside the prostate. This is why the MRI scan was carried out.

Didn't think they would recommend any treatment until they got the full picture. There seems to be a difference between areas on how they approach this. But as already written the score of 6 is not regarded as high although it is high enough.

Keep posting as the people on these forums are very helpful and can be uplifting at times with some of their stories.

Sandy

User
Posted 22 Oct 2015 at 19:04

Hi Tones
I'm 48 too. Click my profile. In Southampton I was offered MRI and first TRUS biopsy in one go. My DRE and ultrasound were average but my PSA was 15 at the time.
All the best with all this
Chris

User
Posted 23 Oct 2015 at 14:11

Hi,

My biopsy was 4+3. I was given an MRI scan and bone scan before being offered any treatment pathway. The MRI apparently showed that the cancer was starting to break out of the capsule on the left side.

I suspect that your team are confident that yours is not at that stage yet. Do you know how many of the biopsy cores showed cancer? With me it was nearly all of them.

Paul

 

THE CHILD HAS GROWN, THE DREAM HAS GONE
User
Posted 23 Oct 2015 at 15:32
Hi there,Sean had his MRI before seeing consultant as the tumour was on the edge of the gland and they didn't know if it was contained.

It gave them an idea about treatment.☺

User
Posted 23 Oct 2015 at 18:29

Tones, a bit more info would be useful if you gave it. Like how many cores were affected and what % of those cores? If you only had 5% of one core cancerous out of 12 they might be confident that an MRI isn't needed. If you had 50% cancer in all 12 cores then it would be a different matter and I would be advising you to phone the nurse specialist to check whether they have forgotten to arrange the scan or the appointments have got out of synch for some reason. No point you having a wasted journey if the onco and uro just say "we can't advise until you have had the scan"

It happened the other way round for my husband - the appointment for the scan arrived before he had even been told he had cancer so we knew what they were going to say before he even saw the consultant!

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

Show Most Thanked Posts
User
Posted 22 Oct 2015 at 14:46

Hi Tones,

The urologist / oncologist probably have enough to go on with your Gleason score, PSA result and results of the biopsy, to outline the treatment options when you see them on the 6th. Have your PSA and biopsy results been explained to you by one of the care team?

For me, it was only when I had considered the options and chose surgery that I was given an MRI scan (as the surgeon wanted to know what he was dealing with). Other health care trusts might differ.

Flexi

 

 

 

 

User
Posted 22 Oct 2015 at 14:55

Thanks Flexi. Really appreciate your quick response. Have found this website a brilliant source of information
Take care

Tones

User
Posted 22 Oct 2015 at 15:43
Hi Tones

Gleason stage 6 is regarded as a low risk of spread hence possibly why no MRI scan.

Ray

User
Posted 22 Oct 2015 at 16:34

Hi Tones,

I'm no expert, but would have thought it highly unlikely they would carry out surgery if that was to be your chosen treatment path without an MRI scan first....

I elected for surgery and was Gleason 6 at the time, but it was subject to a 'satisfactory' MRI scan before I was referred.

Have they given you a clinical T staging yet?..... If they have,it may well be revised after an MRI scan

Luther

User
Posted 22 Oct 2015 at 18:49

oHi Tones

I received the MRI scan because my biopsy came back with a Gleason score of 9.

I have not had the options put to me yet, these will come next Tuesday when I meet the consultants. but it looks like surgery route for me unless there is a spread outside the prostate. This is why the MRI scan was carried out.

Didn't think they would recommend any treatment until they got the full picture. There seems to be a difference between areas on how they approach this. But as already written the score of 6 is not regarded as high although it is high enough.

Keep posting as the people on these forums are very helpful and can be uplifting at times with some of their stories.

Sandy

User
Posted 22 Oct 2015 at 19:04

Hi Tones
I'm 48 too. Click my profile. In Southampton I was offered MRI and first TRUS biopsy in one go. My DRE and ultrasound were average but my PSA was 15 at the time.
All the best with all this
Chris

User
Posted 23 Oct 2015 at 14:11

Hi,

My biopsy was 4+3. I was given an MRI scan and bone scan before being offered any treatment pathway. The MRI apparently showed that the cancer was starting to break out of the capsule on the left side.

I suspect that your team are confident that yours is not at that stage yet. Do you know how many of the biopsy cores showed cancer? With me it was nearly all of them.

Paul

 

THE CHILD HAS GROWN, THE DREAM HAS GONE
User
Posted 23 Oct 2015 at 15:32
Hi there,Sean had his MRI before seeing consultant as the tumour was on the edge of the gland and they didn't know if it was contained.

It gave them an idea about treatment.☺

User
Posted 23 Oct 2015 at 18:29

Tones, a bit more info would be useful if you gave it. Like how many cores were affected and what % of those cores? If you only had 5% of one core cancerous out of 12 they might be confident that an MRI isn't needed. If you had 50% cancer in all 12 cores then it would be a different matter and I would be advising you to phone the nurse specialist to check whether they have forgotten to arrange the scan or the appointments have got out of synch for some reason. No point you having a wasted journey if the onco and uro just say "we can't advise until you have had the scan"

It happened the other way round for my husband - the appointment for the scan arrived before he had even been told he had cancer so we knew what they were going to say before he even saw the consultant!

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

 
Forum Jump  
Email this conversation Print this conversation

Join the online community now.

Click through to become a member and gain access to support, information and real time replies.




MenuTop ▲
©2024 Prostate Cancer UK