CT and bone scan before positive biopsy

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User

Posted 03 Nov 2022 at 13:18

Hi,

My Dad went to the doctors about something completely different. He had a load of bloods and his PSA came back 16, DRE was swollen so a referral was made. This was at the start of August.

He had an MRI which showed abnormalities and git sent for a biopsy which he only had last Thursday 3months after the referral was made. The urologist has sent him for a CT scan and bone scan before the biopsy results have come back. Is this normal? Or does he know something we don't already?

Any comments are appreciated.

Thanks,

User

Posted 03 Nov 2022 at 14:12

Everything takes time, so he's quite likely thinking that it will save time to book the additional scans now.

Also quite likely they can see something suspicious looking on the MRI, but without biopsy confirmation they can't say it's cancer, even if they think it likely is.

_____

Two cannibals named Ectomy and Prost, all alone on a Desert island.

Prost was the strongest, so Prost ate Ectomy.

User

Posted 03 Nov 2022 at 14:15

Thanks for your reply, I'm new to all this but have read a PSA lower than 20 is unlikely to have spread. Is this information correct, we are all worried sick

User

Posted 03 Nov 2022 at 16:54

PSA less than 20, is reasonably safe as far as spread is concerned.

There is a lot of variability with prostate cancer and PSA. From what I have seen on this site, if a PSA is below 20 it probably hasn't spread, if it is above 80 it probably has. However we have had someone with a PSA of 3 where it had spread and some one with a PSA of 80 who didn't even have cancer.

With the small amount of information we have so far on your father, I would say it is about 80% likely that it has not spread. If it has spread it would still be possible to control it for several years.

Dave

User

Posted 03 Nov 2022 at 17:01

Thanks for all your replies.

At the moment the only information we have is that he had a routine check up at the doctors in early August and his PSA came back at 16. He hasn't been retested nor has he ever had a test in the past.

He is 68 and has also recently been diagnosed with Parkinsons.

His MRI showed an abnormality on his right side of the prostate but no other information.

We have come round to the fact it is probably cancer. However with the urologist sending him for CT and bone scans before a positive biopsy, we are starting to get worried he knows omething we don't as from what I have read they normally wait for a positive biopsy first.

Thankyou all again.

User

Posted 24 Nov 2022 at 16:20

Hi all,

All little update, we have had the results today my Dad has been told he has locally advanced prostate cancer. Specialist didn't say Glasson score but said PSA was 16 and bone and ct scan was clear. He was also told he has had it for 10years plus.

Treatment is hormone tablets and injections and then radiotherapy in 3months time.

Questions are is it likely to develop to advanced/metastatic cancer and can it be cured.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

User

Posted 24 Nov 2022 at 17:29

It's very unlikely to spread once he starts hormone therapy, and the radiotherapy should stop it being malignant (so it can't spread and will eventually die). Note that the 3-6 months hormone therapy before radiotherapy is because this makes the radiotherapy work better (doubles the cure rate) - it's not just a delaying tactic. Locally Advanced prostate cancer is usually treated with the intention to cure, which it sounds like his is, providing the hormone therapy is for a limited time (anything up to 3 years). However, no curative treatment always cures, so it will be necessary to continue having PSA tests for many years to check that it doesn't reappear, and to get onto it quickly if it does.

Edited by member 24 Nov 2022 at 17:32 | Reason: Not specified

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