Not Good News after prostate biospy when MRI didn't look too bad
Last month I had PSA of 5.23 when a few months earlier it was 3.2. Then they scheduled me for MRI of prostate. Did another PSA and it was down to 4.16, but still wanted the MRI. Report is below, doesn't look good PI-RADS 5. At one point they say in report Lesions (PI-RADS 3 or higher). If I understand it, it hasn't spread. Wish I could get a plan with doctor!
FINDINGS:
Prostate measurement: 5.7 x 5.0 x 4.9 cm Prostate volume: 68.75 cc PSA: 4.16 ng/mL PSA density: 0.06 ng/mL/cc
Peripheral zone: See below.
Transition zone: No index lesion. Stromal and glandular BPH nodules.
Lesions (PI-RADS 3 or higher):
Lesion # 1: Location: Left posterior peripheral zone extending from the base to the apex Size: 2.4 x 1.3 x 2.6 cm (5.83 cc). T2: T2
hypointense DWI: Marked restricted diffusion DCE: Focal early enhancement, positive Prostate margin: Abuts the capsule without
definite invasion Overall PI-RADS Score: 5/5
Prostatic capsule: Intact.
Neurovascular bundles: Not involved.
Seminal vesicles: Not involved.
Lymph nodes: No lymphadenopathy.
Bones: No acute osseous abnormality.
Other findings: Small fat-containing right inguinal hernia.
IMPRESSION:
1. The prostate gland measures 5.7 x 5.0 x 4.9 cm with volume of 68.75 cc. PSA density is 0.06 NG/mL/CC. 2. Lesion # 1: PI-
RADS 5 lesion in the left posterior peripheral zone extending from the base to the apex measures 5.83 cc. No frank extracapsular
extension. 3. No pelvic lymphadenopathy.
PI-RADS Category 5: Very high (clinically significant prostate cancer is highly likely to be present)
Really doesn't look to bad, one spot that hasn't spread!
Then Bad Update 2/10/2026
Well got biopsy yesterday and results today, doctor hasn't called, just sent biopsy results to MyChart.
The MRI showed only one Lesion like shown above. Had biopsy done yesterday, they did 3 from the Lesion and 6 from each side of prostate. I wondered why they did more biopsy that were outside the lesion, but didn't ask. Got report today- not good. The lesion look better than areas where MRI saw nothing. They took 15 samples total.
Results:
Final Diagnosis
View trends
A. Prostate, "LLB", biopsy:
Prostatic adenocarcinoma Gleason score 3+4=7 (Grade group 2) in 1 of 1 core, involving 30% of needle core tissue.
B. Prostate, "LMB", biopsy:
Prostatic adenocarcinoma Gleason score 4+3=7 (Grade group 3) in 1 of 1 core, involving 70% of needle core tissue
C. Prostate, "LLM", biopsy:
Prostatic adenocarcinoma Gleason score 3+4=7 (Grade group 2) in 1 of 1 core, involving 60% of needle core tissue.
D. Prostate, "LMM", biopsy:
Prostatic adenocarcinoma Gleason score 4+3=7 (Grade group 3) in 1 of 1 core, involving 60% of needle core tissue.
Large cribriform glands present.
E. Prostate, "LLA", biopsy:
Prostatic adenocarcinoma Gleason score 3+4=7 (Grade group 2) in 1 of 1 core, involving 60% of needle core tissue.
F. Prostate, "LMA", biopsy:
Prostatic adenocarcinoma Gleason score 3+4=7 (Grade group 2) in 1 of 1 core, involving 50% of needle core tissue.
G. Prostate, "RLB", biopsy:
Benign prostatic tissue.
H. Prostate, "RMB", biopsy:
Prostatic adenocarcinoma Gleason score 4+3=7 (Grade group 3) in 1 of 1 core, involving 10% of needle core tissue.
I. Prostate, "RLM", biopsy:
Benign prostatic tissue.
J. Prostate, "RMM", biopsy:
Prostatic adenocarcinoma Gleason score 4+3=7 (Grade group 3) in 1 of 1 core, involving 50% of needle core tissue
Large cribriform glands present.
K. Prostate, "RLA", biopsy:
Benign prostatic tissue.
L. Prostate, "RMA", biopsy:
Prostatic adenocarcinoma Gleason score 4+3=7 (Grade group 3) in 1 of 1 core, involving 25% of needle core tissue
M. Prostate, "ROI#1", biopsy:
Prostatic adenocarcinoma Gleason score 3+4=7 (Grade group 2) in 3 of 3 cores involving 70% of needle core tissue
Another thread I posted in a person said "You have a Gleason 4+3 7 BUT you have large cribriform and doctors a UCSF say that puts a 5 in your Gleason score." I believe he picked this up from the biopsy report. I don't know what a cribriform even is, it's not mention in report. From googling around it can only be determined by sieve-like or "Swiss cheese" appearance under a microscope and I don't see that in report? But this is all new to me. Doctors haven't talked to me yet, who knows when they will call or make appointment, took long time to get MRI and even longer to get the biopsy done. Sure were fast getting results, they said 7 - 10 days and they gave them to me the next day. Kind of wish they didn't give me results prior to talking with me.
My first thought is just get the thing cut out, not sure how that is done, as seems they got to leave something in there for urine to flow threw. So they couldn't take 100 percent of prostate out. Then I read about nerve sparing or not and not sure what that means. No doctors have discussed this with me yet. Seems if they take it out there shouldn't be any prostate cancer left? But then I read where people get it out and still have a PSA level, so like I said earlier, they must leave some in there, even when they call it total. Had to drive 150 miles to get MRI and biopsy They could have done that in Topeka, but KUMC is ranked as number 50 in top of prostate treatment so I went there Topeka doesn't have a Proton device, that would be back up to KUMC 150 miles RT. One of those radiations therapy is only a few days, not 30 some days. They do have SBRT radiation in Topeka, but I know of someone who had SBRT or maybe it was IMRT and it screwed up several other organs around the prostate, like bladder, kidneys and intestines.
Then some tell me I am lucky to have them all in grade group 2 or 3. But seems like I had a lot of them (12 of the 15) . So I would guess if they did 25 biopsy I could have had more grade group 2 or 3.
All confusing and stressful, other that this I am 78 years old healthy as a horse- no other issues and very active. Loss of what to do and all the different radiation types, that why just getting the pesky thing cut out of there, but seems they still leave some in.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.
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@drcopp
I’m half Swiss Italian, Grandfather came over from Switzerland, but the Italian side and he married an Italian woman. My mother’s side is German English French. That side came to California in a covered Wagon.
The biopsy procedure does not really produce more cancer. It’s been studied pretty heavily and determined that it is not an issue.
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1 ReactionGreat family history there-mine came from Calabria and Molese.
Thanks for the insights about the biopsy not causing more cancer.
For such a low PSA, your prostate has a lot of PCa. But whatever, intervention is in order. You need to learn about the radiation treatment and RALP. There are tradeoffs. Both suck. But you must choose. The PSMA PET scan is all important as it will tell if the horse has left the barn. Do not make a decision in a rush. But you must wade through all the ugliness to bite on the shytburger that taste the best.
Don't have a clue what PCa means? Yes PSA not bad compared to a lot of others I know up around 8 - 1- and they just watch. My prostate density was really low 0.6 ng/ml/cc. Then says a lot of tings are not involved. I think the worst thing are those 2 Large cribriform glands present. Well the 4+3 I guess are not good.
Llots of good information on this site, but a lot of acronyms I don't know what mean. Then a whole lot of acronyms for radiation and surgery. I am still just thinking get the thing cut out, but it still seems it can come back even though I get it removed. All confusing and caused anxiety, guess the PSMA pet will tell a lot as well as something called a decipher test.
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1 Reaction@diverjer
The director of MCC (Mayo Community Connect) put out a very long abbevations list for us to use. I think it is available at top of page.
But you can send a private message to director at @colleenyoung and she can guide you to how to access those abbreviations if she does not see this post and do so on open forum. Look at top of this page and you will see an envelope. Click on the envelope and type in her I.D.
Trust us you are not alone with being overwhelmed with abbreviations. It is why she developed the list. If we on MCC did not abbreviate our message would probably be twice as long and mine are already long.
PC is prostate cancer. PSA, prostate specific androgen. There has to be around a hundred abbreviations on the list. What I did was to put this list in favorites in my search bar. I can then click on it and bring it up. And yes even though I have been on MCC since 2023 I still have to go to list especially with abbreviations about surgeries, tests, etc. that I did not have.
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1 Reaction@diverjer
PCa=prostate cancer
You have to realize prostate cancer is a chronic disease for almost everybody not a deadly disease. It often grows slowly and can be managed.
PC Abbreviations (PC-Abbreviations-1-1.pdf)
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1 ReactionI have RARP scheduled 3/13/26. Is there any benefit to going to Mayo Jacksonville for long term follow up?
68yr old Male...My PSA traveled upward from 2021....got as high as 18.....3 biopsies the last one MRI guided They found Nothing... now down to 5.21 ....Started dropping after I started TRT (2023) and Finasteride(2025), Just read that if you take Finasteride that you should double your PSA after you have been on it for at least 3 months...
Boy that blew my Happy... 5.21x2 = 10.42 So I quit finasteride, whats the use of faults hope and maybe masking a problem.
The Doctor put me on once a year check(Prostate exam).... I guess he got tired of charging me for nothing LOL
My family Doctor lets me do the PSA test..as often as I like...
The reason Im going over my history is because things happen....age...genes..etc.., Just be aware and watch for bodily changes...feelings and test...etc..,
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3 Reactions@casd57 when you are on finasteride or Avodart you establish a new baseline. It is that new baseline you measure your increase or decrease PSA from. I am surprised your physician didn’t tell you that?
Boy, I am really getting of all this waiting and not knowing! Still the PSMA Pet is 8 days away and followup with RO and the surgical doctor not until March 9th. Then who knows when they will get that Decipher test back (seems they sent it off somewhere), hopefully back prior to 9th. Haven't a clue what it is, but guess it's important. Wondering if I should get what I think is called a BRAC2 test? Maybe should ask the nurse navigator, but that would just delay things more. I don't know why they tell you all the bad stuff about aggressive with cribriform etc and then make you wait a month to discuss what to do. Then who know how long after that you wait before they start anything. Might drive me to drinking! I figure just cut that darn thing out tomorrow, if they have to put in a little OT, so be it. Then I read people that get it cut out still have issues with PSA going up and more cancer even when they don't have a prostate. I noticed the RO they assigned me just finished resident training in 2025, but the surgeon has 20 some years experience. But KUMC is a NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and only one in Kansas and surrounding area. Have to drive 150 miles round trip miles to get to it, but that is most likely better that what I would get here in Topeka KS.
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