first time on here - hoping for help / advice /support as family member as per below;
Elderly male (high 70s in years) referred by doctor "urgently" to hospital due to occasional blood in urine and two raised PSA tests (9 then 8). bladder camera showed no issue but hard lump felt by hospital doctor on exam of prostate.
MRI now recommended but male is claustraphobic and as no other symptoms, a little confused and baffled why the sudden rush for urgent checks. Sedation is not an option - been told whole body and head will need to be in the machine to obtain full scan of prostate.
Is there any other tests that may help confirm what is happening? is a CT scan worth it or cant it show the type of tissues/lumps they might want to see to rule out cancer?
do they have to scan to confirm cancer or can they just "assume" on raised PSA results/exam and treat from there? Do you need a "diagnosis" before being offered things like hormone treatment / radiotherapy etc
what are the side effects people have honestly had from hormone treatment at similar ages? most ive read say "might be this / could be that" but would be helpful to hear what are the most common effects and if people felt it was worth it
What are people's experiences of how they are treated if they politely decline scans / treatment - theres been talk of he'd "rather not know" / "dont want to spend last years in and out of hospital" etc so curious to hear others experiences of how this approach might be met? by NHS and also by family/friends? Trying to support him in deciding if to know or not know, and if not know, would he be offered anything at all on the "assumption" basis
Thanks for listening - sending love to all x