PSA Anxiety

Google is an essential part of 21st century life, and - in my view - a marvellous resource.

All the advice you need (though my guess is that you know it already!), is to use Google carefully, thoughtfully, and selectively.

Yes, there's a lot of twaddle out on the web, and Google can only find what you tell it to find, it will not vet the sites for you (except for malware, but that's another story). But there's a wealth of high quality info out there too, probably enough to make your head spin.

There are, of course other search engines, but Google is probably the best at the moment.

Disclaimer: I have no shares in Google, nor any other interest, except finding the info I need. ;-)

If you want, you can register for EMIS Patient Access, which lets you access all your medical records. I have a PSA blood test one day and I can see the results on the app first thing next morning, the same time as the surgery receives them.

I hope your worst fears prove to be unfounded. Best of luck.

Cheers, John.

I think that is probably true although in our case, John was given a leaflet about support at his diagnosis appointment and the leaflet included details of this website. We did used to have a couple of urologists who were members of the forum (readers but not posters) and also at least one CNS plus a community PCa support worker so presumably they also recommend the forum to their patients. 

Three or four years ago, someone here posted criticism of his CNS and she mentioned it at their next meeting; it makes for an awkward patient / professional relationship :-/ 

Edited by member 16 Mar 2019 at 15:03  | Reason: Not specified

Cheers,

Chris

Best of luck with your appointment,

Chris

Hi Mark

Yes it was, just behind the Pulman garage at Belmont, then robotic surgery at Sunderland with a DaVinci machine. 

If it's the same consultant Mr SD? The site doesn't let you name anyone, he is a really nice guy, down to earth.

Hope all goes well

Andy

it would depend a little bit on what kind of MRI they give you. If a standard MRI then yes, these can miss tumours so a clear scan would not necessarily mean you didn't have any cancer. Also, a normal mRI can show suspicious areas but can't tell the difference between bruising, infection and tumour. If however, you are offered an mpMRI (which uses 3 or 4 different technologies to get an in depth view of your prostate, they can assess how likely any suspicious area is to actually be cancer (in a range of five from 'definitely not cancer' to 'almost definitely cancer'.

A clear normal scan should not necessarily rule out the need for biopsy but a clear mpMRI could possibly be so definitive that a biopsy would be an unnecessary intrusion. County Durham & Darlington NHS trust offers mpMRI to the PROMIS standard; Sunderland NHS trust offers mpMRI but not to the required standard. As CC says, consider the specialist's advice as s/he has had many years training & experience.

Many thanks for all the comments and advice. There are obviously a lot of conflicting opinions here and that's all good. Everything said is representative of making good informed decisions - based on individual personality types and past experiences. For someone like me, these personal beliefs are invaluable. I'm quite agnostic and a very deep thinker. I do frequently overthink things and this will often lead me down a path where I will worry and fixate about stuff. Sometimes this can be a blessing and other times it can be a curse. Striking a balance is difficult, especially when it concerns anything that's health related and even more so; when it's potentially something quite serious. I need to be in possession of the facts and I need to listen to every side of all arguments. This thread has now become an internal debate inside my head and I have no doubt it will eventually lead to making the best decisions that are right for me. I cannot express how much I appreciate the impact you're all having on this process. It means a lot.

As it stands right now. I haven't had an MRI yet and I have not been diagnosed with anything. However, I do not think a clear MRI would give me enough peace of mind to formally dismiss the prospect of potentially having PC. I think a clear mpMRI would have been more helpful in doing that. Thanks Lyn for mentioning this. I didn't realise there were different types of MRI or different standards. I do trust my Urologist and Cheshire Chris raises a very good point about not creating an adversarial atmosphere by demanding particular tests. I also understand that our NHS is stretched when it concerns time, money and resources. The last thing I want to do is become a drain on the system or take valuable diagnostic and treatment time away - from those who may need it more. At the same time I have to consider my own peace of mind and how not having any would effect my life in the future. I think I will wait for the MRI and what comes next, but if that scan is clear, I will have to express my concerns and fears to the Urologist and see if I could possibly convince him to take me down the route of a biopsy. This is not something I would look forward to, but it's something that would give me enough closure, especially after reading Andy's story and feedback. Everything is of course based on a 'what if' for me right now, but it helps to think about outcomes and plan for possibilities and eventualities. I do not want to be caught off guard.

Just touching on what Chris J said about widespread PSA testing not being routinely performed on young men. I would have to agree with this. I only had a PSA test done because of issues with my water works. I think PSA testing at a younger age would create a lot of anxiety and stress for people who generally do not need to worry. I do wish they could develop a more accurate test in the future, although I'm sure this is something that people are working on right now and hopefully will become a reality someday.

Thanks again for all the replies and I wish you all a great weekend. 

All the best, Mark.

Edited by member 23 Mar 2019 at 18:29  | Reason: Two people named Chris. Needed to differentiate.

What a shame no-one in urology had a few minutes to advise you by phone of their suspicions, rather than a biopsy appointment dropping on your doormat.

Now you can look forward to a wait for the biopsy and then two to three weeks for the results of it. I trust you are a patient man, and anyway, the ‘suspicion’ could turn out to be benign.

Best of luck.

Cheers, John.

Hi Mark

don't worry to much about the biopsy procedure, its not that bad, a little uncomfortable but the guy at Durham was great and explained everything as he went and what to expect.

Normally with SD, you can ring his secretary a week later to make the next appointment to see him that same week.

Hope it all works out

I see Rafa has worked his miracle again!!  :-(

andy