Surprised to be here

Hi Walter,

Welcome to the forum that we are all sorry for which there is a need.

Did you also have a DRE (Digital Rectal Examination) or to put it more clearly your prostate felt with a gloved finger through you rectum to check whether it was hard and or lumpy because just considering a moderately raised PSA for your age is insufficient to diagnose prostate cancer. There are other several reasons that could give rise to this, an enlarged prostate being just one of them. The MRI and biopsy may well shed more light.

Unfortunately, not all men with PCa experience symptoms and sadly men younger than you are sometimes diagnosed. In fact a new member has just been diagnosed aged 31. See http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t12135-Just-been-diagnosed--age-31--Gleason-6#post151575

Edited by member 21 Oct 2016 at 02:15  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Walter
Firstly welcome to the forum that non of us wanted to come to, but it is a great place for you to get support and hear other mens stories.

Maybe fate played a hand here and it was just fortunate that you went along to the event in the first place. I know in my case I had no symptoms at all, even after a DRE back in England in April 2015, and then in October 2015 after a blood test and a DRE something was found.

It seems in your case your raised PSA has been identified and that can only be good.

As ChrisJ said read his story and read mine too. I was also in denial and to some extent I still think I am even though I have had the operation and the prostate removed it still all seems like an unpleasant dream that I am living.

The MRI and biopsy will give a clearer picture, but remember the earlier this problem is detected the quicker and speedier will be your recovery.

Good luck and keep us posted

regards HappyH

Just to say welcome Ulsterman.

You've come to the right place for help and support

Early days for you yet and perhaps nothing sinister is there but better safe than sorry. I's not unheard of for men to be diagnosed yet have no symptoms, my husband being one of them (although he is a lot older than you)

Sandra
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I must admit I find it a bit different that no DRE has been done, the usual sequence of events unless there is strong medical evidence for going straight to an MRI, is DRE, ultrasound, Biopsy then MRI or MRI then Biopsy.

I think you need to go back to your consultant and ask why. This is the problem when you first hear the words Prostate Cancer or Tumor your mind goes blank, and you never think to ask what you need to. It happens to all of us, but i really think you need to clarify what and why your doctors is doing this. Remember it is your body and you are entitled to know what the doctor is doing and why?

Good luck

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/screening-for-prostate-cancer

Have a read . Or Google psa tests also check my profile.

Most probably absolutely nothing to worry about at all. Incidentally did you all get fully explained about the implications of the blood test. You may think by looking at my profile I'm very much pro psa testing .. not that simple. Yes as a base line .. In my cause it's probably saved my life or as a minimum given me a few more years.

I had zero symptoms. . DRE always negative. . Ie they can only feel part of prostate. I looked at PSA velocity. . and then asked for biopsy. I'm concerned that others in your group may have symptoms and a very low or 'normal' PSA value and think they are fine. Was this all explained. My cousin a Rotarian was recently discussing with me about the same however he did not realise the PSA test effectiveness as diagnosis. . Totally different for me and many others post rt or op as it then takes on a different emphasis totally. A biopsy is something not to be undertaken without full understanding of risks. I hope this helps. Finally were both your tests done without prostate 'activity' . Have you considered a 3rd psa test before proceeding. . My brother has psa of 18. BPH. And can go down to 3 and then back up etc. He is 69 years old. Has had MRI and DRE fine.

Hi Kevin

May I ask what PSA values did you have.. Were you diagnosed with 'std' PCa.. This seemed to have progressed fast... thankfully sorted in time. All the best...

Walter

Both Biopsy and MRI can sometimes fail to reveal PCa and PSA indicate false positive and negatives. There are occasions where when a removed Prostate is examined in the lab the Gleason score and amount of cancer found is less than originally thought. However, where results are different from pre Prostatectomy assessment, it is more often the case that the Gleason figure is raised and or the cancer has extended further. Having said that, as men grow older more will have PCa knowingly or unknowingly but it will not develop to the point where it will become a problem. So although by pensionable age more will have PCa that not, most of them will die of something else. Efforts are being made to try to ascertain which men have cancer that needs treatment and those that could just be monitored. Where this is not clear, a man has to decide whether to opt for early treatment with potential adverse side effects or delay and hope his cancer does not become more advanced and that he acted too slowly. It can be a difficult decision.

"I think I'm kind of using this forum as a diary to record my actual and emotional journey. Hope no one minds."

Of course we don't. We are a sounding board, a listening ear, a kick up the backside sometimes, but most of all supportive because we've all (to some extent) been there, done that and know what it's like.

Please never feel that you don't know where to turn. You found us.

Sandra

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In many areas, an apparently clear scan would still be followed up with a biopsy - my husband's scan was perfectly normal but the biopsy picked up G7. With a bit of luck, they are planning to do the biopsy on the 9th - did they say anything about it in the phone call?