Apologies if this topic has been covered before. I am resident in UK but mostly abroad. Because of my situation I have been attending a private hospital as a self-pay patient because ‘prostate’ is an exclusion on my insurance.
I have taken a PSA test six-monthly for the past ten years. The steady rise led to and MRI and then a biopsy in 2023. I was assessed as Gleason 3+3, Gp 1 and put on Active Surveillance.
A rise in PSA led to another MRI in May 2025, when I was assessed as R-PI-RADS 4, L-PI-RADS 2+ new R-PI-RADS 4. Gleason 3+4
Radiotherapy was recommended. I have taken two hormone shots, and am ready to start the process. I was then told that I must undergo a procedure in preparation – the insertion of a Fiducial Marker and Rectal Spacer as standard at the hospital. Unfortunately, this latter procedure will double the overall cost. When I look online, I can’t see anything definitive about the necessity of the procedure. I can see that it is not always offered in the UK.
So, my question is about how necessary it is and has anyone experience of it and can offer advice?