Not Good News after prostate biospy when MRI didn't look too bad

Posted by diverjer @diverjer, Feb 10 9:29pm

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.

Profile picture for jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

@franciekid
You’ve been here for three years, so I’m not sure exactly what you’re asking for.

The results for a 4+5 after 44 radiation treatment treatments and oral ADT for 18 months to two years can be long-term remission or short-term reoccurrence. Getting a decipher test can tell you what the likelihood is of having the reoccurrence soon. There’s no model you can go by to tell you that this is going to work, one way or the other.

I know many people that have had radiation and ADT and are around many years later asking about what to do when their cancer reoccurs. I know one guy that’s been on five vacations from ADT, Many years out from initial treatment. His vacations from ADT become shorter, but he’s still able to live without it for a good amount of time.

Jump to this post

@jeffmarc My husband was just diagnosed with Advanced Prostate Cancer in December. Previous posts were about my lung cancer - diagnosed in 2023. - and the drug Tagrisso.
Seems that my husband's radiation oncologist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago is recommending a lot of treatment - Bicalutamide, Orgovyx and a shot (I think Lupron) plus 44 radiation sessions. Was wondering if anyone else had this combination of treatments. Thanks for your reply.

REPLY
Profile picture for franciekid @franciekid

@jeffmarc My husband was just diagnosed with Advanced Prostate Cancer in December. Previous posts were about my lung cancer - diagnosed in 2023. - and the drug Tagrisso.
Seems that my husband's radiation oncologist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago is recommending a lot of treatment - Bicalutamide, Orgovyx and a shot (I think Lupron) plus 44 radiation sessions. Was wondering if anyone else had this combination of treatments. Thanks for your reply.

Jump to this post

@franciekid
The problem is that Lupron and Orgovyx Do the same thing so you would never use them together. He might be on Biclutamide In preparation for getting a Lupron Shot, That would be a normal thing. But there is no way he would be on Orgovyx As well, So that drug must not be Orgovyx It has to be something else. Most likely Zytiga, Eligard, Nubeqa or Erleada.

I suspect you mean Erleada Instead of Orgovyx. That is usually what people get first.

I did respond to this in the other posting you did. Your husband is 83 and this is quite a load of drugs. It may or may not cause a lot of fatigue, as I put in the other message. There are a lot of side effects from these drugs.

The side effects are not overwhelming for a lot of people. Give it some time and see how it works and if it’s overwhelming come back and we can help you with alternate choices.

REPLY
Profile picture for jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

@franciekid
The problem is that Lupron and Orgovyx Do the same thing so you would never use them together. He might be on Biclutamide In preparation for getting a Lupron Shot, That would be a normal thing. But there is no way he would be on Orgovyx As well, So that drug must not be Orgovyx It has to be something else. Most likely Zytiga, Eligard, Nubeqa or Erleada.

I suspect you mean Erleada Instead of Orgovyx. That is usually what people get first.

I did respond to this in the other posting you did. Your husband is 83 and this is quite a load of drugs. It may or may not cause a lot of fatigue, as I put in the other message. There are a lot of side effects from these drugs.

The side effects are not overwhelming for a lot of people. Give it some time and see how it works and if it’s overwhelming come back and we can help you with alternate choices.

Jump to this post

@jeffmarc That was my concern. Too many drugs. Definitely Orgovyx - it's being delivered tomorrow. He's been on Bicalutamide for a few days. I have to go back and find the radiation doc's after-visit summary, because I thought sure he mentioned a shot in the next few months. We have not yet seen the medical oncologist who may have a different POV. Call scheduled for late April.

REPLY
Profile picture for franciekid @franciekid

@jeffmarc That was my concern. Too many drugs. Definitely Orgovyx - it's being delivered tomorrow. He's been on Bicalutamide for a few days. I have to go back and find the radiation doc's after-visit summary, because I thought sure he mentioned a shot in the next few months. We have not yet seen the medical oncologist who may have a different POV. Call scheduled for late April.

Jump to this post

@franciekid
Is it possible that one doctor prescribed the Biclutamide In preparation for a Lupron injection, and the other doctor prescribed Orgovyx Which does not require Biclutamide.

REPLY
Profile picture for jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

@franciekid
Is it possible that one doctor prescribed the Biclutamide In preparation for a Lupron injection, and the other doctor prescribed Orgovyx Which does not require Biclutamide.

Jump to this post

@jeffmarc No. As far as we know, radiation oncologist prescribed everything.

REPLY
Profile picture for franciekid @franciekid

@jeffmarc No. As far as we know, radiation oncologist prescribed everything.

Jump to this post

@franciekid
You will find out what I’m saying is true. They cannot give you both Lupron and Orgovyx, If they do, it’s time to find a new doctor. That would be so far from standard of care it is ridiculous.

REPLY
Profile picture for franciekid @franciekid

@jeffmarc No. As far as we know, radiation oncologist prescribed everything.

Jump to this post

@franciekid
I didn’t say this because I really didn’t notice it earlier, but you are going to Northwestern, which is really a great place to get treated. They’ve got some really good doctors.

Here are some really outstanding oncologist in the Chicago area
At U of Chicago Russell Szmulewitz, MD - UChicago Medicine
Northwestern David J VanderWeele

Both of these doctors are really great at patient oriented treatments. They’re easy to talk to and work with. The information is based on people that go to them and that attend ancan.org Advanced prostate cancer weekly meetings.

REPLY
Profile picture for jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

@franciekid
I didn’t say this because I really didn’t notice it earlier, but you are going to Northwestern, which is really a great place to get treated. They’ve got some really good doctors.

Here are some really outstanding oncologist in the Chicago area
At U of Chicago Russell Szmulewitz, MD - UChicago Medicine
Northwestern David J VanderWeele

Both of these doctors are really great at patient oriented treatments. They’re easy to talk to and work with. The information is based on people that go to them and that attend ancan.org Advanced prostate cancer weekly meetings.

Jump to this post

@jeffmarc Yes. We asked for Dr Vanderweele, but the radiation oncologist sent my husband to Dr Liu for medication oncology.

REPLY
Profile picture for jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

@franciekid
You’ve been here for three years, so I’m not sure exactly what you’re asking for.

The results for a 4+5 after 44 radiation treatment treatments and oral ADT for 18 months to two years can be long-term remission or short-term reoccurrence. Getting a decipher test can tell you what the likelihood is of having the reoccurrence soon. There’s no model you can go by to tell you that this is going to work, one way or the other.

I know many people that have had radiation and ADT and are around many years later asking about what to do when their cancer reoccurs. I know one guy that’s been on five vacations from ADT, Many years out from initial treatment. His vacations from ADT become shorter, but he’s still able to live without it for a good amount of time.

Jump to this post

@jeffmarc

That is an important question to ask. After being radiated and finishing ADT treatment if PSA rises or relapse happens what is the treatment like? The prostate I believe cannot be radiated further. In that case does patient relies on ADT only?

REPLY
Profile picture for ambika @ambika

@jeffmarc

That is an important question to ask. After being radiated and finishing ADT treatment if PSA rises or relapse happens what is the treatment like? The prostate I believe cannot be radiated further. In that case does patient relies on ADT only?

Jump to this post

@ambika
You get a PSMA pet scan. Frequently the reoccurrence is due to a new metastasis. They can be zapped with SBRT radiation as long as they are not in the area that has already been given lifetime radiation

Other than that ADT plus an ARPI is the current solution if chemo or Pluvicto do not resolve the problem. You normally will not get chemo or Pluvicto unless there are multiple metastasis.

REPLY
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