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User
Posted 27 Jun 2026 at 15:57

Hello All, I hve just been diagnosed with PC,just after my 58 birthday in may,i had to see my GP whilst at this appointment i mentioned i had never had a PSA test,the doctor was happy to let me have one,did a digital exam there and then,said all was fine and just needed a blood test,to my suprise it came back 12.5.Fast tracked for MRI out come PIRADS 4,three days later I had a Biopsy,they showed me the MRI and could see suspicious area at edge of prostate !!! Three agonising weeks later appointment with Cancer Nurse for results. t2c/t3a (couldn't tell if breaking through) Gleeson 3+3. MDT favours Active Surveillance.I'm confused,with a PSA 12.5 and a T2/T3 I Would have thought Surgery or Radio would be the reccomendation ?? Is there a chance the biopsy didn't sample more agressive areas.I have a meeting with the Surgical Consultant next week so will be asking his thoughts,is it correct that i can refuse Active surveillance and opt for surgery,it was noted ALL options were ok for me.

User
Posted 27 Jun 2026 at 19:09

Don't rush into anything. Your PSA is no doubt a concern but there could be contributory factors. With G6 you should have plenty of time to think this through. Surgery or RT isn't a walk in the park. 

Sorry your here mate, but you've made the right step in looking for support.

ATB,

hawkz

User
Posted 27 Jun 2026 at 15:57

Hello All, I hve just been diagnosed with PC,just after my 58 birthday in may,i had to see my GP whilst at this appointment i mentioned i had never had a PSA test,the doctor was happy to let me have one,did a digital exam there and then,said all was fine and just needed a blood test,to my suprise it came back 12.5.Fast tracked for MRI out come PIRADS 4,three days later I had a Biopsy,they showed me the MRI and could see suspicious area at edge of prostate !!! Three agonising weeks later appointment with Cancer Nurse for results. t2c/t3a (couldn't tell if breaking through) Gleeson 3+3. MDT favours Active Surveillance.I'm confused,with a PSA 12.5 and a T2/T3 I Would have thought Surgery or Radio would be the reccomendation ?? Is there a chance the biopsy didn't sample more agressive areas.I have a meeting with the Surgical Consultant next week so will be asking his thoughts,is it correct that i can refuse Active surveillance and opt for surgery,it was noted ALL options were ok for me.

User
Posted 27 Jun 2026 at 18:38

Hi, Pittster.

I'm sorry to see that you may be having prostate problems but welcome to the forum.

I'm not medically trained, however, although your PSA is three times greater than the normal range, it could be elevated due to non cancerous conditions such as prostatitis or an enlarged prostate (BPH). Do you know how large yours is?

Your Gleason 6 (3+3) appears fine, some experts believe that it should no longer be labelled as cancer, but others disagree. As you said, biopsies can be inaccurate, more aggressive cancerous cells can be missed.

Your Pi-rads 4 indicates a high likelihood of significant clinical prostate cancer. The other concern is that the suspicious area may not be prostate contained. However, we've had several similar MRI results that have turned out to be due to prostatitis inflammation.

There are no certainties in this game. PSA levels, and MRI scans are only indicators of possible problems and even biopsies are not totally reliable.

I'm a bit of a risk taker. In your case, at this stage, I'd be happy to be monitored. However, it's only a decision that you can make. If you decide on active surveillance and the evidence becomes less favorable, you can always demand radical treatment.

Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best. 👍

Edited by member 28 Jun 2026 at 10:05  | Reason: Additional text

User
Posted 28 Jun 2026 at 01:29

In your shoes, I would be very concerned that they could not be sure it wasn't breaking out of the Prostate. If it does, you could lose the opportunity of treating it effectively by Prostatectomy and possibly by RT, depending where it goes and how much of it there is. Also note that when examined in the lab after Prostatectomy, the Gleason score is quite often upgraded. It is an important decision and one you have to make. However, you could ask for a second opinion from a highly rated Hospital and this might involve a better MRI and more definitive Biopsy. You want best possible information on your situation before making your decision. Meanwhile, suggest you watch this video so you know a fair amount about various treatments should you want it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYTU94-8pTc

 

Edited by member 28 Jun 2026 at 01:30  | Reason: to highlight link

Barry
User
Posted 28 Jun 2026 at 06:07

Stick your figures in here to get a better idea of the risk:
https://www.mskcc.org/nomograms/prostate/pre_op

I did yours roughly (I only have the data you supplied in this post) but the key risks PSA, G3+3, T3A, show the danger point is in 10 years when your risk of progression jumps to approx 50%. 

Key question for me is the T3A (or not) if it's aggressive enough to break out the biopsies may have missed something and / or it's still going to "f u up" through local progression or further changes at some point as you are still young.

Edited by member 28 Jun 2026 at 06:14  | Reason: Not specified

Show Most Thanked Posts
User
Posted 27 Jun 2026 at 18:38

Hi, Pittster.

I'm sorry to see that you may be having prostate problems but welcome to the forum.

I'm not medically trained, however, although your PSA is three times greater than the normal range, it could be elevated due to non cancerous conditions such as prostatitis or an enlarged prostate (BPH). Do you know how large yours is?

Your Gleason 6 (3+3) appears fine, some experts believe that it should no longer be labelled as cancer, but others disagree. As you said, biopsies can be inaccurate, more aggressive cancerous cells can be missed.

Your Pi-rads 4 indicates a high likelihood of significant clinical prostate cancer. The other concern is that the suspicious area may not be prostate contained. However, we've had several similar MRI results that have turned out to be due to prostatitis inflammation.

There are no certainties in this game. PSA levels, and MRI scans are only indicators of possible problems and even biopsies are not totally reliable.

I'm a bit of a risk taker. In your case, at this stage, I'd be happy to be monitored. However, it's only a decision that you can make. If you decide on active surveillance and the evidence becomes less favorable, you can always demand radical treatment.

Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best. 👍

Edited by member 28 Jun 2026 at 10:05  | Reason: Additional text

User
Posted 27 Jun 2026 at 19:09

Don't rush into anything. Your PSA is no doubt a concern but there could be contributory factors. With G6 you should have plenty of time to think this through. Surgery or RT isn't a walk in the park. 

Sorry your here mate, but you've made the right step in looking for support.

ATB,

hawkz

User
Posted 28 Jun 2026 at 01:29

In your shoes, I would be very concerned that they could not be sure it wasn't breaking out of the Prostate. If it does, you could lose the opportunity of treating it effectively by Prostatectomy and possibly by RT, depending where it goes and how much of it there is. Also note that when examined in the lab after Prostatectomy, the Gleason score is quite often upgraded. It is an important decision and one you have to make. However, you could ask for a second opinion from a highly rated Hospital and this might involve a better MRI and more definitive Biopsy. You want best possible information on your situation before making your decision. Meanwhile, suggest you watch this video so you know a fair amount about various treatments should you want it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYTU94-8pTc

 

Edited by member 28 Jun 2026 at 01:30  | Reason: to highlight link

Barry
User
Posted 28 Jun 2026 at 06:07

Stick your figures in here to get a better idea of the risk:
https://www.mskcc.org/nomograms/prostate/pre_op

I did yours roughly (I only have the data you supplied in this post) but the key risks PSA, G3+3, T3A, show the danger point is in 10 years when your risk of progression jumps to approx 50%. 

Key question for me is the T3A (or not) if it's aggressive enough to break out the biopsies may have missed something and / or it's still going to "f u up" through local progression or further changes at some point as you are still young.

Edited by member 28 Jun 2026 at 06:14  | Reason: Not specified

 
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