Frustration with biopsy scheduling due oi MRI issues

If you have a home in S.C. have you reached out for Mayo Jacksonville? You are not far (driving) from Mayo Jacksonville as Mayo is in north Florida.

I had my MRI at Mayo Jacksonville and the MRI fusion there. Most urologist do a lot of procedures but Mayo Jacksonville is an excellent and experience facility. Would not hurt to reach out to them. I was referred to urology by my primary care provider.

Good luck and hang in there. I remember going through all this test and procedure. It does take time to do all and know that most of us have gone through it and what you are feeling and worry is normal even though not good as I felt the same way you did waiting for procedures on my way to finally getting proton radiation for my PC.

I know. I'm just concerned that a delay of this magnitude may have an impact on possible treatment options. I was hoping that a focal treatment might be possible but that might even be a stretch now since a don't have a well defined lesion. Just crossing my fingers that it doesn't progress significantly until I can get a treatment plan. If I can't get the biopsy until August then I'll have another 4-6 weeks before I can get surgery or radiation, then recuperate from that. I'm planning on selling my DE house this summer but am now in limbo. I'm also supposed to officiate my grandson's wedding in PA early Nov. You're right about Mayo-Jacksonville, not a bad trip from Hilton Head. I probably should have started down that path in the first place, but all my health care providers (cardiologist, neurologist, etc.) are up north.

Sorry for your frustration.

Two days after reviewing my initial 2025 MRI/Biopsy performed by local Urologist/Hospital, I called City of Hope in Newnan, Ga for a 2nd opinion.

After this initial phone call, I have had the greatest service, medical care, without any frustrations.

Obtaining Appointments, followup tests, answers to questions/concerns, and everything else has been incredible.

I have a friend with Prostate cancer who stated Radiation in 2021, followed by ADT, and now Chemo. He had been to three different medical centers over the years due to Doctors retiring, centers changing, etc.

Two weeks ago, he went for his 1st consult at City of Hope and he called me in amazement. He said, I have never had such peace in a facility. Everything is done to make the patient have the best experience possible.

Nothing is perfect. My only recommendation is to call around, ask friends for recommendations, get recommendations here, etc.

Finding good Doctors (Both Radiation Oncology, Surgeon, and test facilities is more important than when the biopsy is performed (in most cases).

You may need the initial biopsy performed at a non-cancer center (before they accept you as a patient at a cancer center).

Finding the best Doctors and treatment centers is most important. Treatment timing is a distant 2nd, most of the time.

Best Wishes on finding great medical resources.

@keithl56 How fast is your PSA rising? That will give you an indication of what will occur with the delay. If it has been a few months since the last test get another one. PSA tests are cheap and there are lots of sites where you can schedule one if your doctors are not willing.

thanks!

It can be a mess. As @charlesprestridge said, coordination (having all things in one good place - a center of excellence) is great for peace of mind and for avoiding stupid things like file format incompatibility, file corruption, general miscommunication and lots of shrugs all around. I recently switched from a regional urology chain to Johns Hopkins, and things just click over there. Record transfers from the first provider to JH have been a bit of an issue, which is just one indication that I made the right choice. Get everything in the same place.
As for the delay, yes, that can be very concerning. Are you on ADT yet? If so, your cancer is probably in a holding pattern, "asleep". In my own case, that has provided time, allowing my RO and MO to make sure that the next steps are the correct ones, and I'm glad for that. I hope that helps, and good luck.

@keithl56 I sent my MRI electronically to Mayo Rochester and got a response the same week. I ended up doing Tulsa Pro there in July 2024. Jacksonville also does Tulsa. I have always found Mayo to be very responsive. I was supposed to get a PSMA scan in Minneapolis and they called and delayed it three weeks, I called Mayo and they got me in the next day. Good luck.

...if no one can use the disk or use a digital file a repeat 3-Tesla mpMRI with dye is in order to guide in the diagnosis and treatment. Consider negotiating with a CCOE to have a repeat image
and an agreement not to charge you more than Medicare B & A would pay regardless of your participation in those programs. There are codes and modifiers that can be sent with the bill to the 3rd party which may facilitate an appeal if they refuse to pay initially. "Health is wealth" my father always correctly said. I hope you are not house poor and unable to pay for a negotiated lower price. MRIs do not cost what PET CT scans do.

Sorry this has happened to you. I start getting some anxiety over things as simple as the PSA test. I usually start thinking, worrying about it about 30 days out. I can only imagine a concerning MRI and then not being able to quickly determine if there is anything to really worry about. I concur with the others suggesting you seek out a center of excellence. I was originally diagnosed a Gleason 6 by my regular urologist. After reading all the comments here I decided it would seek out a center of excellence as I go along this prostate cancer journey. I then started going to the Mayo Clinic here in Phoenix. These centers of excellence tend to offer just about all of the various types of treatments, latest in research, equipment, excellent doctors, etc. Blood draws for PSA have the results available in 2 hours so you have your draw and then consultation with your urologist at the same time. Teams of individuals contact you for your PSA tests, MRI's, biopsies, consultations. All very organized and timely. When it does come time for treatment decisions, they tend to recommend that treatment type which is best for your particular case. Many smaller practices may only recommend that treatment which they offer which may not be the best treatment for you. Maybe in a way this delay will allow you to find a better place for your prostate cancer journey. I will say a prayer all goes well for you.

@guybe

Thanks. This situation has just galvanized me to pursue treatment at JH. I'm already in their system due to cardiology issues.