Constant fear

User

Posted 26 Nov 2025 at 19:28

Hi all,

I don't know if I am the only one to feel this, but will this always be a difficult path defined by constant fear?

In my case, I have no family history of prostate cancer. I am 52 years old, and my PSA level has been rising over the last four years, increasing from 3.1 to 4.9 today.

The urologists (there is a different one every time I visit) have performed a Digital Rectal Exam (all normal), abdominal ultrasound (all normal), and transrectal ultrasound (all normal), and the current diagnosis is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Grade 2 (39 cc). Each test takes 5 years off my life due to stress, so, since these tests are insufficient, they are performing an MRI in December (which surely won’t be definitive either), followed by a biopsy. If all goes well, we will start the same testing cycle again in a year because the PSA will keep rising... anyway... a life of fear... I’m losing sleep over the MRI now... anyway... does one ever get used to this?

User

Posted 26 Nov 2025 at 23:14

MRI and biopsy is as definitive as it can be....

User

Posted 27 Nov 2025 at 10:45

A biopsy will be conditional on the result of the MRI.

It's (literally) a stab in the dark if MRI says there’s nothing to see.

User

Posted 27 Nov 2025 at 15:05

Going back a few years, they used to do a template biopsy with cores taken over a wide grid at precise spacing but nowadays tend to concentrate on suspicious areas seen on MRI for taking cores. You are being monitored and early detection is the most important aspect here. At present you don't have a cancer diagnosis and hopefully will never have one or at least not for a long time. Enjoy your life without worrying what might be, just like if you might be killed or maimed if you crash in a car, aeroplane or whatever. Meet situations as they arise not what might happen.

Let us know if/when you do get a PCa diagnosis with full details and we will support you. With regular monitoring any PCa is likely to be at an early stage and can then be treated with curable intent in increasingly improved ways.

Barry

User

Posted 27 Nov 2025 at 15:27

Hi GonMor

You are quite sensible in being vigilant. When my PSA began to rise suddenly my two GPs told me that the actual level of my PSA was within my 'age range' and refused to refer me to a urologist. I decided to go private, saw a top urologist in our area, following MRI assisted biopsy he diagnosed prostate cancer, I had RARP a week later. and the rest is history; that was 15 years ago and I am 'cured'. Chances are what you have is possibly benign but the rate of rise of your PSA has to be explained by a urologist. My GPs didn't seem to grasp the concept of the rate of rise of PSA which could be a significant factor.

'Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.' Richard Feynman (1918-1988) Nobel Prize laureate

User

Posted 28 Nov 2025 at 03:17

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Hi GonMor. Chances are what you have is possibly benign but the rate of rise of your PSA has to be explained by a urologist.

Yes but GonMor has said that there is a different Urologist every time who have performed a DRE and scans and told him as much as they can based on that. He is having an MRI in December to be followed by a biopsy. So it's not that his GP is witholding a referral as in your case Pratap.

Barry

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