On my first referral to a Urologist for a urine flow test, due to my bladder never entirely emptying at night, combined with increased frequency of visits, I was simply given a months medication, though around the same time my PSA was around 7. The medication largely reduced my night time visits.
A subsequent routine six monthly PSA result put my PSA at over 10+ which hastened a return to the Urologist for a TRUS Trans-rectal ultrasound and biopsy, which was done within an hour (a bit nippy!) with a two week wait for results. The results were that cancer had been found but at a low level and told, it was not the news that I would want to hear, but that it had been caught early, so far from the worst of outcomes. I was given a pamphlet to learn from as to what might be about to happen, I shoved it in drawer and never looked at it, hero that I am!
I was informed the next step was to have an MRI (you might have already gathered, that some here, seem to have had the MRI before the biopsy, that I can't explain) so the surgeon could assess what my options might be regarding treatment. Due to bruising caused by the biopsy there's a six week wait for the bruising to subside before an MRI can be done. So, even more time for the imagination to play games.
A further two weeks passed after the MRI scan, before I was summoned to meet the surgeon (three hours on a bus!) to discuss the findings. After learning my options, which were an operation or radiotherapy, I was initially told a partial prostatectomy should suffice, only to be followed by, well maybe a radical prostatectomy would be better but at least the nerves are ok and erectile function could be preserved, only to be updated again! to removal of some nerve tissue being the final decision with erectile dysfunction being the outcome, though now I'm told there are courses to remedy this! so, all in all, a quite bewildering journey for me
Regarding radiotherapy, I was told that when that is not successful, there is a very slim chance that surgery is ever successful, that's why I chose surgery as my preferred option. Also, I was then 69 years old and couldn't foresee that if one failed I would be fit enough for yet another treatment.
However, all turned out well for me. Only three days in hospital! and then out wearing a catheter, returning after for one week for an xray to determine whether the surgeon reconnected some tubes well enough enabling disconnecting the catheter. Some pain, and tears of frustration also some waterworks accidents, which can be embarrassing but that was mostly with leakage from where the catheter enters the penis, there must be a better solution for this small but humiliating problem. I've gone, in three months, from three Incontinence Pads a day to hardly needing one at all now, and almost, since removal of catheter, no need at night at all, though I did wear one just in case. Keeping up the pelvic floor muscle exercises is crucial to recovering bladder control.
Well I have ranted on a bit! I too had a very harrowing time of it, veering from gloom and doom to, I can come through this and reach my 70th! which i have. I've now had my three month clear, or almost negligible PSA result, so much to appreciate and aiming for that free TV licence at 75 for now.
I hope there is something here which helps put your circumstances into a better perspective.
From what I've read on this excellent forum, it seems there are few cases exactly same within the whole spectrum of PC'r
Best wishes in the coming months and years.