What happened to the right for a NHS patient to choose a hospital?

Your concerns are understandable.  Perhaps you can advise why you think he's an aggressive case.

If it's a first appointment there is no reason another hospital shouldn't have the 14day/62day target.  Not many achieve it and often with Prostate Cancer it's not over critical.  Although I admit I thought it was at the time and still do for my condition as diagnosed by biopsy and MRI.

Is his psa very high or has he had a biopsy/MRI?

I'm sure someone else will add to this discussion.

All the best , Peter

Edited by member 20 Nov 2019 at 23:53  | Reason: Not specified

Thank you for your replies. I've always believed that women are as strong as men but I'm afraid that I've done nothing but cry for the past few days. 

My partner had a PSA level of 7.6 in June but had an infection in his semen. So he decided to get rid of the infection and retake the PSA Test. It took two courses of antibiotics and he didn't get the all clear for nearly 2 months - long story involving contaminated/lost samples. He waited for 4 weeks before asking for another PSA test but had to then for wait for 5 weeks (flu jab season). To be honest he wasn't that worried. He'd been through a prostate cancer scare in 2013 and it turned out to be an enlarged prostate. 

He got the result on 12.11.19. He was devastated. It was 9.6. We have read that such an increase is usually a sign of aggressive cancer. And he has always had a low testosterone count. If men with low T get prostate cancer it is almost always aggressive. 

His GP gave him an urgent referral to our local hospital. But he has no faith in them. When he had his scare in 2013 the consultant persuaded him to have TRT. Within 2 months his PSA rose from 3.5 to 4.3 and there was no difference in his libido. He was very worried and decided to stop TRT. His consultant told him he hadn't given it a chance to work and that he should up the dose!!!!!!!

So we decided to ignore the referral and booked an appointment with a prostate cancer specialist.  ,After a DRE he recommended an urgent MRI. My partner had the MRI today and the specialist will ring him tomorrow with the results. 

Everything looks very bleak. High PSA , abnormal DRE and MRI scan required for two areas. We are so depressed and expecting the worst. 

He will need a biopsy. But does he need to have it at the local hospital? 

I doubt that they have the necessary skills/equipment to carry out a targeted biopsy. 

Or can he choose a hospital that regularly carries out targeted biopsies? 

Can anyone help?

Of course you can ask to be referred to a different hospital. Patient choice does stop the target clock ticking though so there is no guarantee that your partner would be seen as quickly as staying with the local hospital. The 14 days is only a guideline and hospitals don't fail something for not meeting it. Personally, I would wait to see whether the local hospital offers a template biopsy before deciding to go elsewhere - and if the MRI does show areas of concern, a TRUS biopsy would be sufficient anyway.

You can use the interactive map on the PCUK website to find out whether your hospital offers diagnostics to PROMIS standard, and also to check out the other hospitals within striking distance.

My consultant rang me last night. He told me that he was almost 100% sure it was cancer. That's why he sent me for an MRI of two sites. But he told me that he couldn't find any cancer on the scan results. He is one of the UK's top men so he must know what he's doing. 

He told me to go for another PSA test in January. 

I'm just worried what to do if my PSA is still rising. 

I've read posts on this forum of men with high PSA constantly being told they're OK until suddenly their not. 

So at the moment we're relieved but living with a threat over our heads. 

Like most people on this forum.

Many thanks for all your help 

Sorry about that.

Yes we are using the same account.

We've been together for over 40 years and do everything together. 

My partner hasn't been referred for a biopsy - the consultant said it isn't needed.

I know that I should be ecstatic but there's a little voice whispering to me 'there's no smoke without fire'.

Yes, 9.6 isn't that high but it rose from 7.6 in just 5 months. And in 2016 it was 4.

And he has low testosterone. If men with low testosterone get PC it is almost always the aggressive type. 

The consultant didn't give any reason for the rise in PSA or suggest any treatment. 

So what happens if it rises yet again? 

Will my my partner be given an urgent referral and the whole process starts over again.

With the advances in prostatectomy surgery I'm beginning to think that men over 50 should just have their prostates removed and be done with it. 

One of the most highly regarded urologists in the UK and indeed internationally, says the Prostate is the last organ that is routinely removed completely if some cancer is found in it. He argues that as with other organs only the part affected by cancer should be treated and that there was a gradual move towards this, to help maintainfunction and avoid side effects as stated by Bill. So this is completely contrary to the ill informed way forward suggested in the quote.