61 years. Recent diagnosis of grade group 4 prostate cancer.

User

Posted 08 Oct 2025 at 00:03

I live in Ireland, so timelines may differ from NHS

Brief History

08 March 2025 … routine PSA test with GP … elevated PSA level 6.8 (doubled in 3 yrs) .... no symptoms

15 May 2025 … PSA of 7.0 … DRE revealed a firm left side of the prostate

19 June 2025 … MRI scan indicated "multifocal abnormal areas classified as PlRADS 4 lesions".

27 July 2025 … underwent 14 transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsies (TRUS)

04 Sept

results for 12 cores were benign but for 2 cores the results were:

- Core A: Gleason 3 + 3 = 6, prostate cancer in 5% of cells,

- Core B: Gleason 4 + 4 = 8, grade group 4 prostate cancer in 5% of cells

Oct 7

I have transferred my treatment from the public health system in Ireland to a private hospital in Belfast in Northern Ireland as it nearer to my home and I have private health insurance.

Now awaiting a PSMA PET-CT scan on 22 Oct.

Meeting oncologist on 4 Nov.

My worry is that due to the slow pace of my progress through the so-called “Rapid Access Prostate Clinic” in Ireland and the transfer of my notes to the private hospital, I may have lost valuable time and the cancer may have spread. I now have another 4 weeks to wait until my consultant gives me the results of the PET Scan and we discuss treatment options. Given my biopsy results, can anyone provide reassurance or should I be worried?

Brachytherapy, external beam radiotherapy and radical prostatectomy have all been discussed with my previous consultant. I am not keen on surgery.

User

Posted 08 Oct 2025 at 07:47

Hello Liam,

I'm sorry that you've had to join 'the club', but welcome to the forum.

Prostate cancer is generally slow growing, the small delay in swapping hospitals, is very unlikely to cause a difference in your treatment or outcomes.

I was finally diagnosed Gleason 9 (4+5) and T3a capsular breach. I ended up waiting almost five months, but it didn't cause any problems. I was told there were often very long delays during Covid and that they very rarely affected outcomes. Try not to worry mate.

Here's an excellent video on all treatment options and possible side effects of each. It's London based but the information in it applies throughout the UK.

https://youtu.be/zYTU94-8pTc?si=1Z29_l8rbTwF6DHl

Please keep us updated and good luck mate.👍

User

Posted 08 Oct 2025 at 09:54

Ah cheers Adrian and thanks for the quick reply and reassurance.

I watched that video last night and from what I saw, it appears that my choice will be a straight choice between surgery (if contained) or external beam RT. My Gleason score of 8 seems to rule out brachytherapy.

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61 years. Recent diagnosis of grade group 4 prostate cancer.

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