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User

Posted 24 Sep 2019 at 21:32

Hello all, I wonder if anyone can give me some advice about making sense of p.c? I was diagnosed with p.c. about two months ago, I had a blood test (psa15. something), a digital and endoscopic exam and an MRI. Unfortunately I can't have a biopsy because of other health problems, so I am wondering if the medics can make an accurate assessment of my prostate? I understand a biopsy is the normal "next step" but my urologists agrees that such am I intrusive procedure would not be a good idea. I am not over worried about having p.c., but would like to get some idea of what is going on, what's to come etc. I will not be able to have chemo or radio therapy, so I am a bit stuck! Any thoughts would be really welcome. Many thanks for reading this long post. gorry

User

Posted 24 Sep 2019 at 22:50

A biopsy is the only way to know for sure what type of prostate cancer you have (there are many different types) and how active it is. Presumably if you’re unable to have a biopsy you’d be equally unable to have your prostate surgically removed?

Why couldn’t you have RT? It’s in no way an invasive procedure, and for most people its side effects are quite mild.

Best wishes,

Chris

User

Posted 24 Sep 2019 at 23:10

Was it what is referred to as an mpMRI? That means that they used different types of image at the same time and then layer the images to get a more detailed result. If that was the case, you should have been given a PIRADS score indicating how likely it was to be cancer (1 being very unlikely and 5 being almost certainly) - if you have been diagnosed without a biopsy then I imagine they could either feel it in the DRE or your PIRADS score was a 4 or 5?

I am struggling to understand why you wouldn't be able to have external beam RT or brachytherapy with MS? Something about your specific presentation perhaps?

Edited by member 24 Sep 2019 at 23:13 | Reason: Not specified

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

User

Posted 25 Sep 2019 at 15:49

Many thanks both for the helpful and very quick replies. I can't answer the questions raised at present as I don't see the medic until October. At the moment it is a case of getting in any information I can, where I can. Once I have got more clinical information I can go into more detail and start thinking about a direction of travel. Watch this space!

User

Posted 26 Sep 2019 at 10:11

You should be able to call the department and ask for a chat with the prostate clinical nurse specialist (CNS) - may be a Macmillan nurse. They are very good at explaining things and will have more time than the consultants, and you can probably see them within days (or even same day - I have popped in without an appointment a couple of times).

Unfortunately (particularly outside of England), many hospitals don't have CNS, and even in England, numbers are dropping with vacancies unfilled. (I read a report showing 50% of CNS are due to retire during next 10 years, just at the time when their workload is increasing fastest.)

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