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

Notification

Error

MRI - do I need to go with him?

Email this conversation Print this conversation
User
Posted 02 Sep 2019 at 08:46

Hubby has MRI this week. Reading other posts I am taking it that he will not get any feedback on the day. I want to support ‘important’ appointments but I also work. If the MRI is literally him just being scanned I am thinking this is not one of those? Advice appreciated ta 

User
Posted 02 Sep 2019 at 09:44

It will be a multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI). These require specialist radiologists to interpret them, of which there's a shortage. The radiographer who's doing the scan won't be able to tell (and they're not allowed to tell you even in cases where they can see an obvious result). It's exceedingly unlikely to be analysed on the day. In any case, the specialist radiologist doesn't report it back to you, they report it to the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) who will then discuss it at their next weekly meeting, and decide what action to take, at which point the MDT will feed back to you. Typically, there's a 3 week gap between a test procedure, and the following consultation where you get the results and find what happens next, although this particular scan can be rushed through faster as it's on the critical path for the hospital to meet it's diagnosis time targets.

Edited by member 02 Sep 2019 at 09:47  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 02 Sep 2019 at 12:41
It may be a mpMRI, it may not. Even with the old style scans he is unlikely to be told anything straight away.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
User
Posted 02 Sep 2019 at 16:17

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
It may be a mpMRI, it may not. Even with the old style scans he is unlikely to be told anything straight away.


Here's a map showing the hospitals offering mpMRI and those not.
https://prostatecanceruk.org/about-us/projects-and-policies/mpmri


The ones which say 'not to PROMIS standard' mean they don't offer enough different parametrics which show prostate well for it to be considered a real prostate mpMRI. (Most likely, they are using an old protocol with parametrics that are no longer considered optimal for diagnosis.)


Hospitals which only offer 2 paramentics are no longer allowed to call this multi-parametric (although I don't know if that's reflected in the map - they might show as 'not to PROMIS standard').

User
Posted 03 Sep 2019 at 16:58
Hi Worried,

He will just lie on a bed going through a tube with loud annoying mechanistic noises for 45 minutes, hopefully drowned out by headphones.

He may have an injection of dye into the vein on his wrist half-way through.

You would waste your time sitting outside, and you won’t hear the results for a week or two, so let him go on his own.

Make sure you accompany him to the follow-up appointment with all your potential questions written down. If there is nothing untoward found you can tear them up like confetti and shower the consultant with them.

Best of luck.

Cheers, John.
Show Most Thanked Posts
User
Posted 02 Sep 2019 at 09:44

It will be a multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI). These require specialist radiologists to interpret them, of which there's a shortage. The radiographer who's doing the scan won't be able to tell (and they're not allowed to tell you even in cases where they can see an obvious result). It's exceedingly unlikely to be analysed on the day. In any case, the specialist radiologist doesn't report it back to you, they report it to the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) who will then discuss it at their next weekly meeting, and decide what action to take, at which point the MDT will feed back to you. Typically, there's a 3 week gap between a test procedure, and the following consultation where you get the results and find what happens next, although this particular scan can be rushed through faster as it's on the critical path for the hospital to meet it's diagnosis time targets.

Edited by member 02 Sep 2019 at 09:47  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 02 Sep 2019 at 12:41
It may be a mpMRI, it may not. Even with the old style scans he is unlikely to be told anything straight away.
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard
User
Posted 02 Sep 2019 at 13:40

Thanks both - He had spoken to hospital and on this one he will go alone. We are off on holiday (long haul) in 3 weeks so I think he’ll opt for biopsy post holiday - especially based on what I’ve read on the forum. 

User
Posted 02 Sep 2019 at 16:17

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
It may be a mpMRI, it may not. Even with the old style scans he is unlikely to be told anything straight away.


Here's a map showing the hospitals offering mpMRI and those not.
https://prostatecanceruk.org/about-us/projects-and-policies/mpmri


The ones which say 'not to PROMIS standard' mean they don't offer enough different parametrics which show prostate well for it to be considered a real prostate mpMRI. (Most likely, they are using an old protocol with parametrics that are no longer considered optimal for diagnosis.)


Hospitals which only offer 2 paramentics are no longer allowed to call this multi-parametric (although I don't know if that's reflected in the map - they might show as 'not to PROMIS standard').

User
Posted 02 Sep 2019 at 16:55

It’s at Milton Keynes which looks like it does - thanks

User
Posted 03 Sep 2019 at 16:58
Hi Worried,

He will just lie on a bed going through a tube with loud annoying mechanistic noises for 45 minutes, hopefully drowned out by headphones.

He may have an injection of dye into the vein on his wrist half-way through.

You would waste your time sitting outside, and you won’t hear the results for a week or two, so let him go on his own.

Make sure you accompany him to the follow-up appointment with all your potential questions written down. If there is nothing untoward found you can tear them up like confetti and shower the consultant with them.

Best of luck.

Cheers, John.
User
Posted 03 Sep 2019 at 18:54

Thanks John - we came to that conclusion. My best friend has been diagnosed with bowel cancer and said the same regarding the beginning of her journey. We ate off on hols in 24 days so I guess we may get feedback beforehand but will opt for any biopsy when we get back.


 

 
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