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.

I agree with Phil and Jeff. You need a genitourinary oncologist and a different center of excellence, if the place you are going claims to be one. At the very least, ditch the doctor who posted that contradictory and incoherent report. I am sorry you are dealing with this on top of prostate cancer.

REPLY

The two I see at KUMC are genitourinary oncologist, both RO and surgical doctor. All they do is urinary cancer treatment. It just seems this place is so big and there are so many doctors you just can't get anything done and it takes forever to get any responses to question or appointments or test. Maybe it's because they're just the only ones in the big area that are recognized. Even the nurse Navigator doesn't call back I left two messages in two days.
I have made appointments with two other doctors, one will do surgery or radiation I've never been to him before. The other one has done thousands of prostate removals and many other surgeries and I have been to him before. He's really skilled I guess but doesn't have the best personality, but I'll still go to him and see what he has to say about all my reports.
I never knew things could be this difficult, my wife's breasts cancer and so smooth everything was taken care of from biopsies to surgery within 30 days and kumc, but I guess that ain't the way it is in the urology department. That's really depressing sometimes you just want to tell you the heck with it yeah I'm going to last forever anyway. By the way where did I go to download that go to meeting software? Thank you.

REPLY
Profile picture for diverjer @diverjer

The two I see at KUMC are genitourinary oncologist, both RO and surgical doctor. All they do is urinary cancer treatment. It just seems this place is so big and there are so many doctors you just can't get anything done and it takes forever to get any responses to question or appointments or test. Maybe it's because they're just the only ones in the big area that are recognized. Even the nurse Navigator doesn't call back I left two messages in two days.
I have made appointments with two other doctors, one will do surgery or radiation I've never been to him before. The other one has done thousands of prostate removals and many other surgeries and I have been to him before. He's really skilled I guess but doesn't have the best personality, but I'll still go to him and see what he has to say about all my reports.
I never knew things could be this difficult, my wife's breasts cancer and so smooth everything was taken care of from biopsies to surgery within 30 days and kumc, but I guess that ain't the way it is in the urology department. That's really depressing sometimes you just want to tell you the heck with it yeah I'm going to last forever anyway. By the way where did I go to download that go to meeting software? Thank you.

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@diverjer

Are you seeing

Rahul A Parikh, MD, PhD

https://findadoctor.kansashealthsystem.com/provider/rahul-a-parikh/1220789

He is at the University of Kansas

Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Care Pavilion

2650 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Westwood, KS 66205

Phone: 913-588-1227

He’s supposed to be really good for a specialist in prostate cancer.

REPLY
Profile picture for diverjer @diverjer

The two I see at KUMC are genitourinary oncologist, both RO and surgical doctor. All they do is urinary cancer treatment. It just seems this place is so big and there are so many doctors you just can't get anything done and it takes forever to get any responses to question or appointments or test. Maybe it's because they're just the only ones in the big area that are recognized. Even the nurse Navigator doesn't call back I left two messages in two days.
I have made appointments with two other doctors, one will do surgery or radiation I've never been to him before. The other one has done thousands of prostate removals and many other surgeries and I have been to him before. He's really skilled I guess but doesn't have the best personality, but I'll still go to him and see what he has to say about all my reports.
I never knew things could be this difficult, my wife's breasts cancer and so smooth everything was taken care of from biopsies to surgery within 30 days and kumc, but I guess that ain't the way it is in the urology department. That's really depressing sometimes you just want to tell you the heck with it yeah I'm going to last forever anyway. By the way where did I go to download that go to meeting software? Thank you.

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@diverjer
Have you worked with a Dr. John Antonucci?

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Profile picture for jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

@diverjer
Have you worked with a Dr. John Antonucci?

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@jeffmarc
No I am not seeing Rahul A Parikh, MD, PhD, but I do see him listed. I don't see Dr. John Antonucci listed when I do a name search at KUMC. My RO is DR Kane and surgical doctor is Dr Duchene (Urologic oncologists). Both are easy to talk to and spent plenty of time with, but really got blown away with the clinical notes from Dr Duchene. Also, you just can't seem to get responses when having questions. Maybe they have staffing issues, our daughter is a RN in town and I know Topeka is short of medical staff. Then if you want an appointment it will be a month or more out. I look back and my first MRI was scheduled back in December and KUMC sent me to a 3rd party where they scheduled me for 1/15/26. KUMC was scheduled out 3 months for an MRI is reason they used another provider.

I had to Google the difference between Urologic oncologists and genitourinary (GU) oncologists. Doesn't look like genitourinary (GU) oncologists do surgery, So I was wrong Dr Duchene is a Urologic Oncology Surgeon. However, still seems the right specialist for prostate cancer.

Urologic oncologists and genitourinary (GU) oncologists both specialize in treating cancers of the urinary system and male reproductive organs (bladder, kidney, prostate, testis, penis). The primary difference is their training background: Urologic oncologists are surgeons (uro-oncologists) who specialize in operating on these cancers, while genitourinary oncologists are often medical specialists focusing on chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and systemic treatments

REPLY
Profile picture for diverjer @diverjer

@jeffmarc
No I am not seeing Rahul A Parikh, MD, PhD, but I do see him listed. I don't see Dr. John Antonucci listed when I do a name search at KUMC. My RO is DR Kane and surgical doctor is Dr Duchene (Urologic oncologists). Both are easy to talk to and spent plenty of time with, but really got blown away with the clinical notes from Dr Duchene. Also, you just can't seem to get responses when having questions. Maybe they have staffing issues, our daughter is a RN in town and I know Topeka is short of medical staff. Then if you want an appointment it will be a month or more out. I look back and my first MRI was scheduled back in December and KUMC sent me to a 3rd party where they scheduled me for 1/15/26. KUMC was scheduled out 3 months for an MRI is reason they used another provider.

I had to Google the difference between Urologic oncologists and genitourinary (GU) oncologists. Doesn't look like genitourinary (GU) oncologists do surgery, So I was wrong Dr Duchene is a Urologic Oncology Surgeon. However, still seems the right specialist for prostate cancer.

Urologic oncologists and genitourinary (GU) oncologists both specialize in treating cancers of the urinary system and male reproductive organs (bladder, kidney, prostate, testis, penis). The primary difference is their training background: Urologic oncologists are surgeons (uro-oncologists) who specialize in operating on these cancers, while genitourinary oncologists are often medical specialists focusing on chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and systemic treatments

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@diverjer
Actually, Doctor Parikh is an Oncologist, Quite different from the doctors you are seeing. He works with advanced cases of prostate cancer to help find the best treatments.

He’s the type of doctor that refers his patient to the RO or the urologist for surgery or radiation. He’s trained in helping people with advanced cases so he can help you find the best solution.

Request an appointment with him.

When I had my reoccurrence, I was turned over for treatment to a GU oncologist. My case was beyond the expertise of a urologist or a radiation oncologist. I’ve worked with her for many years now. I have never found a question she could not answer. The doctors you have now couldn’t possibly have the knowledge to answer the technical questions I have come up with. They are just not trained to handle advanced prostate cancer. A GU oncologist like Dr. Parikh is trained to work with somebody like you. Give him a try.

REPLY
Profile picture for jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

@diverjer
Actually, Doctor Parikh is an Oncologist, Quite different from the doctors you are seeing. He works with advanced cases of prostate cancer to help find the best treatments.

He’s the type of doctor that refers his patient to the RO or the urologist for surgery or radiation. He’s trained in helping people with advanced cases so he can help you find the best solution.

Request an appointment with him.

When I had my reoccurrence, I was turned over for treatment to a GU oncologist. My case was beyond the expertise of a urologist or a radiation oncologist. I’ve worked with her for many years now. I have never found a question she could not answer. The doctors you have now couldn’t possibly have the knowledge to answer the technical questions I have come up with. They are just not trained to handle advanced prostate cancer. A GU oncologist like Dr. Parikh is trained to work with somebody like you. Give him a try.

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@jeffmarc
Will give it a try, Thank You.

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Profile picture for heavyphil @heavyphil

@jeffmarc Why would that be preferred treatment, Jeff?
If large cribriform is so dire, why not go on ADT, remove the gland and do Adjuvant radiation as soon as you can?
Phil

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@heavyphil

It is PROTECT study.

In short, they found that RP delayed metastasis but they happened in about 25% of patients in 15 years , while RT +ADT had better results - only 8% of patients had mets in period of 15 years.

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Profile picture for jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

@heavyphil
Well, that’s just it, Used to be they thought surgery was the best option for large cribriform. Recent studies, however, have come out and shown that radiation and ADT are a better option.

I’ve heard this while on one of the ancan.org Advanced prostate cancer weekly meetings. Rick who runs for meeting was talking about how radiation was preferred. Previously, I thought it was surgery, But I check with AI and it definitely shows that radiation is the preferred method as Rick found out with studies he’d read about. Of course, surgery followed by salvage. Radiation would probably be pretty much as good and maybe you could avoid ADT but I wouldn’t bet money on it.

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@jeffmarc
You are right - study involved ADT .

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After being on phone waiting forever I sent in a request via a form they have for appointment with Doctor Parikh. Now more waiting.

I was looking at the side effects of ADT, there sure are a lot and the treatments of radiation seem to be a little strange. Side effects mention were hot flashes, fatigue, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, weight gain, muscle loss, osteoporosis (bone thinning), increased fracture risk, metabolic changes (diabetes, high cholesterol), heart arrhythmia and potential cardiovascular issues. Then the RO said and a search seems to verify is bowel urgency/blood down the line in 1-2 years. That seems odd that it would tale 1-2 years, some places I found it could be sooner, but RO said down the road 1 - 2 years.
The person I talked to today while cleaning up at our church said he didn't have that ADT, gel or full bladder for radiation. Then he did mention there were some bladder and urethra issues that need fixed. Actually, took a piece from inside his cheek and put in urethra.

Seem to make getting it cut out not so bad. Only about 5% to 10% of men may experience long-term, permanent incontinence. Its a gamble and skill of doctors and radiation folks need to be on the mark. Neither is a walk in the park or sure thing.

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