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Confused and worried ady

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User
Posted 15 Sep 2025 at 11:27

Hi everyone I am new here, about 4 weeks ago I had an mri scan and was told it was suboptimal now I have to get a systemic biopsy performed to say I am worried is an understatement. I am 58 and my PSA was 10. 

User
Posted 17 Sep 2025 at 16:15

Hi friely,


Adrian and Mick have said it all, the waiting and wondering is by far the worst part of this process. My diagnosis was through my local NHS pathway and despite it being over Christmas was remarkably fast in hindsight. There's no reason why you shouldn't call whoever told you the MRI was suboptimal to chase up the next step. We all tend to not want to push in case we make a nuisance of ourselves but if a couple of weeks have gone by and you've heard no more its got to be worth a call, there is after all the remotest chance that you've got overlooked, its rare but it does happen. 

User
Posted 15 Sep 2025 at 14:57

Hi there, welcome along, although it's somewhere you dont want to be.


My PSA was 4.8 and I had a biopsy based on my MRI identifying two areas of concern that were likely to be cancer. Cue being terrified for a few weeks.


Im not sure what a systemic biopsy is? Have they told you if it will be transrectal or transperinneal? Just a bit of difference between the two. But really nothing to worry about at all. Pretty painless and over in a very quick time under local anaesthetic. 


The thing about this process is the waiting about for information.  You are on a conveyor belt which flies along in certain places and then goes on the Blink so that progress seems glacial by comparison.  


Hopefully a big flipper arm will push you off this conveyor at the same point it did me, dumping you into a reject bin for the non cancer time wasters.


But if the biopsy does indicate cancer then you will transfer onto another belt taking you somewhere else in the factory. Im sure others here will be along to fill you in about those next steps.


The hard part is just taking things one test at a time, one step after another. The lack of control feels terrible, but it is what it is...the Law grinds exceeding slow but it grinds exceeding small. The NHS,  well it got the memo about slow, let's put it that way. 


Try not to worry,  but thats like me saying try not to breathe for the next few weeks. Just try not to worry about things that haven't happened yet, as they might not.


Best wishes for your biopsy, mick. 

User
Posted 15 Sep 2025 at 20:45

Thank you so much for your welcome I will let you know the outcome. 

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User
Posted 15 Sep 2025 at 14:57

Hi there, welcome along, although it's somewhere you dont want to be.


My PSA was 4.8 and I had a biopsy based on my MRI identifying two areas of concern that were likely to be cancer. Cue being terrified for a few weeks.


Im not sure what a systemic biopsy is? Have they told you if it will be transrectal or transperinneal? Just a bit of difference between the two. But really nothing to worry about at all. Pretty painless and over in a very quick time under local anaesthetic. 


The thing about this process is the waiting about for information.  You are on a conveyor belt which flies along in certain places and then goes on the Blink so that progress seems glacial by comparison.  


Hopefully a big flipper arm will push you off this conveyor at the same point it did me, dumping you into a reject bin for the non cancer time wasters.


But if the biopsy does indicate cancer then you will transfer onto another belt taking you somewhere else in the factory. Im sure others here will be along to fill you in about those next steps.


The hard part is just taking things one test at a time, one step after another. The lack of control feels terrible, but it is what it is...the Law grinds exceeding slow but it grinds exceeding small. The NHS,  well it got the memo about slow, let's put it that way. 


Try not to worry,  but thats like me saying try not to breathe for the next few weeks. Just try not to worry about things that haven't happened yet, as they might not.


Best wishes for your biopsy, mick. 

User
Posted 15 Sep 2025 at 20:33

Hi friely.


I'm sorry that you've got prostate problems but welcome to the forum, mate.


I'm not medically trained but I believe a suboptimal MRI means, for some reason or another, it wasn't as clear as it should have been. A systematic biopsy is where cores, usually 12, are taken from all over the prostate.


As your MRI wasn't clear, there would be nothing to specifically target on the biopsy, so it would make sense to take cores from all areas. 


Your PSA is elevated but not too drastically. The rise could be caused by other non cancerous prostate conditions. Only a biopsy can tell if you've got prostate cancer, and if you have, how aggressive it's likely to be.


You're bound to be anxious, we all have been.  Having diagnosis procedures is the most frightening time. All I can advise is try not to worry, it won't change things, and take and deal with one step at a time.


Please keep us updated. Best of luck, mate.👍

Edited by member 15 Sep 2025 at 20:33  | Reason: Apostrophe

User
Posted 15 Sep 2025 at 20:45

Thank you so much for your welcome I will let you know the outcome. 

User
Posted 17 Sep 2025 at 16:15

Hi friely,


Adrian and Mick have said it all, the waiting and wondering is by far the worst part of this process. My diagnosis was through my local NHS pathway and despite it being over Christmas was remarkably fast in hindsight. There's no reason why you shouldn't call whoever told you the MRI was suboptimal to chase up the next step. We all tend to not want to push in case we make a nuisance of ourselves but if a couple of weeks have gone by and you've heard no more its got to be worth a call, there is after all the remotest chance that you've got overlooked, its rare but it does happen. 

 
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