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How Long Since Your Diagnosis?

Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Aug 30, 2025 | Replies (47)

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Profile picture for steveapplebaugh @steveapplebaugh

Actually, I am afraid that what you are saying is so -- that the only thing Dr. Levin is going to suggest this morning is a biopsy, not treatment. I don't want to wait. Report: 1. There is a 0.9 cm T2 hypointense circumscribed focus with mild restricted diffusion in right lateral peripheral zone. It is difficult to discern whether this reflects a PIRADS3 or a focal RADS 4 peripheral zone lesion. 2. No other or additional suspicious prostate lesion appreciated.

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Replies to "Actually, I am afraid that what you are saying is so -- that the only thing..."

Treatment is never done as a result of a PIRADS score alone. A PIRADS score itself is not determinant of prostate cancer, it’s only an estimate (probability) of the risk.

Yes, he is quite likely to suggest a biopsy as the next step - especially for a PIRADS 3, 4, or 5. You can bet on that.

(As for that “0.9 cm T2 hypointense circumscribed focus with mild restricted diffusion in right lateral peripheral zone” — they’ll want to biopsy that suspicious area.)

It’s the numbers that guide next steps: PSA —> PIRADS —> Gleason —> (and perhaps more from there). Without the numbers, they will not move forward,

In the MRI report, were the words extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion, or perineural invasion mentioned?

The biopsy should be very informative. With your current numbers, you can't really tell too much. I had an MRI about a year ago because my PSA rose steadily and slowly to 7.67 over a few years (I'm 78 btw). The MRI yielded a PIRADs score and the presence of a lesion (2cm?). So I had a biopsy and it found Gleason 3+4 and 3+3 in 2 out of 23 needle samples taken. Interestingly, my urologist took 3 samples from the lesion and they all were benign. So I've been on AS since then and my most recent PSA in April was 4.7. I'm due for another MRI+biopsy early in 2026 with another PSA later in 2025. All these numbers can work out to different results for different guys--size of prostate, age, overall health, family history, etc., but the biopsy is a must! Good luck--enjoy NC!