PI-RADS 4 with ill defined margin and positive DEC

Posted by keithl56 @keithl56, Apr 11 4:06pm

I received my MRI report and it doesn't look very encouraging. Peripheral lesion, ill defined margin, and positive DEC. From what I have researched this seems to indicate aggressive prostate cancer. The good news is that it is contained to my prostate so far.

Has anyone had similar MRI results and had a biopsy that turned out OK? Biopsy is scheduled for 6/2.

I was hoping that I would be able to have a focal treatment (TULSA or focal laser ablation) in order to minimize side effects but from my reading it looks like they are only effective in well defined lesions and that I may be looking at a radical prostatectomy.

Does anyone have any relevant experience with similar MRI reports and outcomes?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for csbarry @csbarry

@keithl56
Dr Emberton explains that it is overused and the side effects aren’t worth the process. Even at PI-RADS 4 I will probably die of other issues before cancer. I am 62 - PSA was 9.7 last year and 8.6 this last quarter. My next will be in Aug and I will make some decisions then. If I am over 12 then trouble is coming.
My surgeon wants to scoop my prostate out - which will leave me incontinent, with no erection or able to produce any seminal fluid. His answer is to give me a penis pump or his office can show me how to inject my penis with trimex. LOL No thanks. I will play the long game and hope for the best. In the meantime I will continue to enjoy my sex life as it is - I will savor every minute.

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@csbarry
New surgery technique’s can give immediate continence and with nerve sparing still enjoy erection’s and penetration. The old stories everyone has grown up about being incontinent and impotent after prostate surgery are giving way to the new technology. I even went home from surgery the same day. The sooner you address it makes recovery regarding these issues better. The stories everyone hears about how slow prostate cancer grows are stories too. Sure many prostate cancers are slow growing but as many are not. Not until you get a biopsy and Gleason score will you know whether yours is aggressive or not. Even Decipher testing gives you a better decision making tool

REPLY
Profile picture for wheel1 @wheel1

I had a PIRADS 4 lesion that obviously was the concern. I went into my biopsy and they took several specific bites of the apple and then did the basic template random dozen bites. When I went to see my Urologist afterwards for the info, he told me he had good news and bad news. The good news was the PIRADS 4 lesion was benign ( the purpose of the biopsy) which surprised him, but then the bad news, the random cores identified two Gleason 6, two Gleason 7 (3+4) and one Gleason 8 (4+4). He did explain to me a concerning PIRADS lesion can come out benign. It was fortunate their was a PIRADS 4 that hastened my probably future biopsy later down the line when symptoms may have gotten worse and the cancer left the capsule

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@wheel1

Wow! You never know what to expect.

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Profile picture for csbarry @csbarry

@keithl56
Dr Emberton explains that it is overused and the side effects aren’t worth the process. Even at PI-RADS 4 I will probably die of other issues before cancer. I am 62 - PSA was 9.7 last year and 8.6 this last quarter. My next will be in Aug and I will make some decisions then. If I am over 12 then trouble is coming.
My surgeon wants to scoop my prostate out - which will leave me incontinent, with no erection or able to produce any seminal fluid. His answer is to give me a penis pump or his office can show me how to inject my penis with trimex. LOL No thanks. I will play the long game and hope for the best. In the meantime I will continue to enjoy my sex life as it is - I will savor every minute.

Jump to this post

@csbarry

I can understand the dilemma of choosing quality of life versus quantity. In my case I have co-morbidities which may influence my decision. In 2018 my cardiologist told me that within 5 years I was likely to have a major adverse cardiac event due to my severe coronary artery disease, yet here I am. I know the clock is still ticking so depending on my biopsy I may be tempted to just roll the dice.

REPLY
Profile picture for wheel1 @wheel1

@csbarry
New surgery technique’s can give immediate continence and with nerve sparing still enjoy erection’s and penetration. The old stories everyone has grown up about being incontinent and impotent after prostate surgery are giving way to the new technology. I even went home from surgery the same day. The sooner you address it makes recovery regarding these issues better. The stories everyone hears about how slow prostate cancer grows are stories too. Sure many prostate cancers are slow growing but as many are not. Not until you get a biopsy and Gleason score will you know whether yours is aggressive or not. Even Decipher testing gives you a better decision making tool

Jump to this post

@wheel1

Good to hear. Did you have a radical prostatectomy?

REPLY
Profile picture for wheel1 @wheel1

@csbarry
New surgery technique’s can give immediate continence and with nerve sparing still enjoy erection’s and penetration. The old stories everyone has grown up about being incontinent and impotent after prostate surgery are giving way to the new technology. I even went home from surgery the same day. The sooner you address it makes recovery regarding these issues better. The stories everyone hears about how slow prostate cancer grows are stories too. Sure many prostate cancers are slow growing but as many are not. Not until you get a biopsy and Gleason score will you know whether yours is aggressive or not. Even Decipher testing gives you a better decision making tool

Jump to this post

@wheel1
Now a days you can diagnose through proteins in your urine. My doctor (University of Florida - Urologist) never heard of that. I met with the surgeon just three weeks ago and he laid out the side effects as I described. Dr Emberton lays it out the best for me - I go with that. So much info out there. Dr Emberton explains that the science of urology is currently in an explosion of “new” ideas and thoughts. Not holding my breath but waiting for the “new” to happen -
Peace

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Profile picture for keithl56 @keithl56

@wheel1

Good to hear. Did you have a radical prostatectomy?

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@keithl56
I did have a radical prostatectomy done by my surgeon using the newer DaVinci single port robotic model along with the nerve sparing and Retzius sparing that allows for the Puboprostatic ligament holding the bladder not to be cut by the surgeon coming in to remove the prostate from behind the bladder. Many patients are not aware of newer surgical techniques that are becoming available and this is a real need for patients to research and not just take what their surgeon says who they probably only went to because of a referral. Find and pick your surgeon

REPLY
Profile picture for csbarry @csbarry

@wheel1
Now a days you can diagnose through proteins in your urine. My doctor (University of Florida - Urologist) never heard of that. I met with the surgeon just three weeks ago and he laid out the side effects as I described. Dr Emberton lays it out the best for me - I go with that. So much info out there. Dr Emberton explains that the science of urology is currently in an explosion of “new” ideas and thoughts. Not holding my breath but waiting for the “new” to happen -
Peace

Jump to this post

@csbarry
Yes the ExDxo urine marker non invasive prostate marker test. This urine test is designed for people over 50 with a psa in the grey area that might have risen. It analyzes exosomal RNA to assess the risk of clinically significant cancer greater than Gleason 7. This test can sometimes help a person delay a biopsy if it comes back low while becoming more active surveillance while watching a lower questionable PSA. Just another tool in the tool box and so easy. It again is interesting how you hear so few urologists even discuss it.

REPLY
Profile picture for wheel1 @wheel1

@csbarry
Yes the ExDxo urine marker non invasive prostate marker test. This urine test is designed for people over 50 with a psa in the grey area that might have risen. It analyzes exosomal RNA to assess the risk of clinically significant cancer greater than Gleason 7. This test can sometimes help a person delay a biopsy if it comes back low while becoming more active surveillance while watching a lower questionable PSA. Just another tool in the tool box and so easy. It again is interesting how you hear so few urologists even discuss it.

Jump to this post

@wheel1

That's why I am going to Johns Hopkins, a center of excellence, for my second opinion. I hope that they will be on top of all of the newer techniques versus my local urologist.

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