Quicker Diagnosis of PCa

User

Posted 03 Mar 2018 at 17:11

Hopefully consolidation of tests and shorter waiting times will be rolled out throughout the UK before long:-http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5456243/NHS-launches-one-stop-service-diagnose-prostate-cancer.html

Barry

User

Posted 03 Mar 2018 at 18:47

Yes indeed - when I had a breast lump I had mommogram/ ultrasound and targeted biopsy all in one appointment.

Luckily to was a scare but efficiency in testing made the waiting for the results much easier ..

User

Posted 03 Mar 2018 at 19:10

I heard a piece on this on the radio today. The early flaw seems to be that if the MRI is clear the man will be sent home without a biopsy. In cases where the cancer doesn’t show up on scans (as with John and CJ) this is going to be a problem.

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

User

Posted 03 Mar 2018 at 19:48

It brought a smile as the hospital I attend had a new build treatment centre well over a decade ago with one aim being fast track PCa. Although then it was CT scan and within a couple of days. They never quite achieved that but if they see a need to move quick its quick.

I also have my concerns on some PCa types being missed. Particularly if a clear scan by passes a uro or onco consultant as they will not get the opportunity to base further action or or not based on experience/gut feeling. My first biopsy was clear but uro said no you have PCa so let's have another biopsy.

Ray

User

Posted 03 Mar 2018 at 21:03

I complained about the long wait time for diagnosis at my local hospital. It took 4 months in my husband's case. The specialist nurse said she and her colleagues were crying out for quicker diagnosis for men.
When I pointed out to the consultant there that women would never wait that long to find out if they had breast cancer he just said Prostate cancer is not like Breast cancer. We know that but the worry of waiting is just as bad and prostate cancer is not always slow growing.

We found out too late that had he asked to be referred to our regional centre it would have been much quicker as they do a version of the one stop system.
At least he had his operation within the month once we saw the consultant there and thankfully it seems to have been contained.

It can only be good news if the tests are done much quicker and I would expect those not biopsied will still be followed up with further MRI, PSA and DRE tests and then have a biopsy at a later date if needed.

Ann

User

Posted 04 Mar 2018 at 01:23

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

I would expect those not biopsied will still be followed up with further MRI, PSA and DRE tests and then have a biopsy at a later date if needed.

Ann

That would have been no use at all in my husband’s case. MRI was clear, PSA was 3.1, DRE indicated prostate was small, soft and even. On removal (6 weeks after diagnosis), the cancer was in every section of the prostate and into his bladder and he also had PNI. Some cancers simply don’t show up on a scan.

Fast track diagnostics will be great as long as there is some flexibility for the urologist’s instincts; my worry is that if MRI becomes the norm for indicating whether or not a biopsy is needed, men like my husband will die. It should be scan and biopsy for indicative men.

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

User

Posted 04 Mar 2018 at 10:10

Unfortunately Lynn that happens with biopsies too. How many men do we see where the biopsy missed the cancer? Certainly the standard TRUS one does with the Template biopsy being more accurate.
This would obviously cost the NHS much more time/money of course as a general anaesthetic is needed for the Template biopsy.
We can only hope the MRI keeps being developed to the point where it is more accurate.Maybe your husband's PCa would have been picked up if he was only going for tests now as the Multi parametric MRI's have improved in the last few years.

I agree also that it should be scan and biopsy for indicitve men. It may be that men would feel happier going for the appointment when it is not a given that they are automatically going to be biopsied.

As GP's & urologists are only human with differing opinions and ability there will always be men who slip through the net.
As it's so important to get at risk men to the Urologist in the first place why is there seemingly still some GP's sending men away and putting them off saying they don't need a PSA test because i.e
You are too young,the prostate feels ok, etc,etc.

Regards
Ann

User

Posted 05 Mar 2018 at 23:37

17 days seems more like how it should be. Although when I was being diagnosed there were a lot of remarks like 'usually slow growing' and a bit more time to get it right is worth it. If the average diagnosis from GP referral is 56 days then I didn't do too badly anyway. 56 days is shocking. The most surprising thing is this is a procedural change not a medical breakthrough. Also it's a world first although Stephen Fry seemed to get quickly treated.

User

Posted 06 Mar 2018 at 08:33

Hi Lyn,

What sort of MRI did John have?

We do not the situation re access to MpMRI scans has been very variable for PCa diagnosis and interest the PROMIS trial was done with a 1.5 Tesla machine and already the 3 Tesla machine is available is subject places.

I see PCUK are doing another freedown if information surchase next month of the use of the MpMRI scan in the UK NHS both availability and for fdiagnosis of PCa.

So things keep moving and maybe a 3 Tesla scanner would have picked up John PCa

I know know the biopsy was a much nastier procedure for A than we were prepare for however the scan mad it quite clear something was amis so it helped knowing it was right to have had it done first and slowed the biopsy to be focused.

Interest times though

Thanks

Clare

User

Posted 06 Mar 2018 at 16:25

My Diagnosis took less than 2 weeks from my first meeting with the consultant.

My consultant arranged for two days later a MRI scan, immediately followed by biopsy. Results and treatment options given 7 days later!

My treatment / operation (RRP) was less than 4 weeks after that!

All on the NHS - cant praise them enough!

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