Received MRI Results Today

@stew80
I answered another poster on what is UFHPTI below and includes some additional information.
UFHPTI: University of Florida Hospital Proton Therapy Institute.

@stew80
First, all of us on MCC started this way with MRIs and went through the same anxiety and stress over what all this means and what is coming. Use MCC to solicit questions to MCC posters who can give you their experience. Just know the treatment of prostate cance (IF you have it) has been improved dramically over the years with great outcomes especially if caught early.

Also, I think medical doctors sometimes are addressing only physical medicine. If you have anxiety and stress over this that you feel needs attention asked for it. I did and help me through this process. Mental health is just as important as physical health and both have a profound affect on each other.

You should asked you urologist or whomever ordered the MRI your questions. We can pass on our experience, but your case is specific to you. What most of us have done is after the MRI showing suspicious areas and biopsy is usually ordered to determine if cancer or something else. But without a Gleason Score (what biopsy will determine) what you have, and even if cancer, won't be known and all the different treatments out there.

When you get the biosies your provider will come back with Gleason score. With that score treatment options will be discussed with you. Most of us you will see suggest getting additional test to help determine a more accurate diagnosis.

After you get your Gleason Score asked about Decipher, PSMA, bone scans. They all help your urlogist and you get a better diagnosis and treatments. There are going to be a lot of different treatments. And that is where you need to do research and strongly suggest getting second opinions for your specific case.

Thank you. This is very helpful.

@heavyphil
I am laughing as I type this. Loved your response.

When my urologist wanted to do my biopsies trans rectal I thought the same thing about the increase in infections, and the statement "you would only have to stay in hospital a few days if infected." Then he told me about the statistics for rate of infection for transperineally was negligible I began asking questions with all my medical providers.

My cardiologists got involved and told him there was no issue with me having it done transperineally and with aesthesia. I don't think the urologist became my buddy and called me and said he will do the biopsies via MRI/FUSION transperineal.

Even the anesthesiologist came to procedure came in to talk to me prior to biosies remembered me from recently having a colonoscopy with anesthesia and said you had no problems before at all, and I don't expect any, but I will be here.

Stew - I wouldn’t even worry about having surgery - you are too old!🤣
No, seriously….radiation is probably indicated for any man in your age group in lieu of surgery. Cyberknife type treatment (5visits) is an exceptionally precise and successful mode of treatment. Many of the adverse side effects have been mitigated with newer techniques and radiation systems too numerous to list.
Even a high Gleason score - although you might need hormones if a Decipher test indicates it - can be treated with Cyberknife.
You really DO want to avoid surgery if possible, which is why you need to find a hospital that treats many patients with prostate cancer and not settle on what the local docs want to do

Stew - Yes , it is a shock , but you caught it now rather than later . So your 84 , PSA is u at 12'ish , how quick did it get there ? When is your biopsy ? The PSMA-PET will tell you more information than a MRI , but in Canada we start off at the MRI with contrast ( usually ) . Any Gland cancers in family ? NO worries ... just focus on fixing things . I was 58 when diagnosed with PC at PSA 4.0 . Gleason was 3+4 , which is typical and needing intervention . I got surgery, then 22 sessions of EBRT ( External Bean Radiation Therapy ) , also called "Salvage " radiation. Since then , 3 years ago for operation and 2 years ago for EBRT ... I feel fine . PSA is now 0.041 ( very low - unreadable is usually about 0.008 ) and no issues to speak of . Dont worry just get great help . Keep close to your URO ( Urologist ) and maybe consult with a Radiation Oncologist ( RO ) as soon as you can . Keep us in the loop ! God Bless Brother , you will be fine ! James on Vancouver Island .

I responded *very* badly to spinal surgery in 2021, even though I was still a young man (56). I ended up with 2 months of post-surgical complications before I could move from a critical-care bed to the rehab centre to start on the very long road of learning to walk again. So like @heavyphil I'll cast my personal vote for "radiation". After that experience, nobody's putting me under and cutting me again unless there's no reasonable alternative.

But others here have had awful experiences with radiation, even though most have had few or no complications from it. So there's no single, correct choice. As I and others keep repeating, the overall-survival statistics are the same for radiation or prostatectomy, so the OP should have a conversation with his oncologist, and a longer one with his own body, then pick the one that suits.

How did the biopsy go?

Not so well. Biopsy itself was fine, 12 samples, trans rectal.. Ended up with infection in bloodstream so was at ER from late evening till early this morning. Given 4 antibiotics ( two oral, one injectable and one intravenous). Worst fever and chills I have ever had. So far no sepsis so keeping my fingers crossed. Will stay on amoxicillin for 10 days and hopefully that will fix the infection. Urologist says he should have pathology report on the biopsy first of next week or maybe by tomorrow

So sorry. You didn't need that on top of everything else.