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.
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Well got call they set up both CT scans rib/chest and pelvic on 20th of August. I don't understand why they want me there 1 1 1/2 hours to drink barium for pelvic CT? They are not looking at my digestive system! Why drink that barium, bet it taste nasty. I am going to make appointment with the PA who had her nurse set it all up and ask if this is necessary to drink barium. Also, going to ask why not do MRI as less radiation. Between PSMA-Pet/CT in January and CT of brain in May from the TIA- that is a lot of radiation exposure.
@diverjer Well I think they ARE looking at your GI tract; specifically the area of the hernia.
They are probably looking to see if your intestine is within the musculature of the abdomen - or not.
That should answer your question: is the hernia still there, or not?
Phil
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2 ReactionsYes, they told me that the barium would show the intestines better and make lymph nodes stand out more. But now they went and changed the pelvic scan to an MRI.
I think I am feeling that hernia now, but I am not a doctor. However wasn't feeling anything earlier. Have appointment with my PA Monday, don't know if she will check it out or not.
Wish urologist was more corroborative, but he was having a bad day when I asked him about swelling. Had emergency surgery that put him behind, still in scrubs and office full of mad people.
Now they moved my Pelvis scan from a CT scan to a MRI scan on 8/31. Still have 5th rib CT on 20th because something that showed on PSMA back in January (they say 100 % sure it’s nothing but scanning anyway). Also another PSA test next week, 6 week one was .06, and this will be a 16 week PSA test. Is it true I shouldn’t be lifting weights and doing my 3 mile walks right before PSA test?
On the swollen area, right side same place the fix hernia I didn’t want fixed. No one is even talking about lymphedema or any of the other tests mentioned like Lymphoscintigraphy or Indocyanine Green. Sonographic test was normal. They just aren’t saying what that swollen area is. It’s still sore, but not getting worse. I am feeling small movement on the cough test, but no doctor has done the cough test on that right side lately- just me. Didn’t feel anything a few weeks ago. I mentioned it to PA Monday, but she didn’t give me the cough test, just said get the MRI. Maybe the surgeon I see on 18th will do it, but I know I feel something. But surgeon is the one that said it was nothing and but fat after his 30 second look. Sonogram Tech, Express Care doctor and PA said- not normal something wrong. Maybe MRI will come up with why?
I wish he just had taken the prostate out and left the hernia I had since the 1980s that never bothered me alone. That would leave out another possible problem and then they could focus on one issue.
Article some might find interesting? Clues Hidden in Failed Prostate Cancer Immunotherapy Trials. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/clues-hidden-failed-prostate-cancer-immunotherapy-trials-2026a1000phy
@diverjer - You asked, “Is it true I shouldn’t be lifting weights and doing my 3 mile walks right before PSA test?”
The recommendation that I’ve always gotten has been no vigorous exercise 7 days before a PSA check (among other things).
Now, walking 3 miles over two hours probably isn’t all that vigorous, while doing that distance over 30 minutes is probably very vigorous, so I suppose it depends on the nature and intensity of your workout.
Good luck on all your upcoming checks. Hoping they get to the bottom of that swelling.
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1 ReactionI am going to hold off on weight lifting. May still do walks?
I asked Google "should I limit my exercise before a PSA blood test when they've taken my prostate out" The AI answer was NO, you generally do not need to worry about exercise..............
So then I asked the same question, but after prostate out I added 3 months ago.
"should I limit my exercise before a PSA blood test when they've taken my prostate out 3 months ago" Then Google AI said Yes you should avoid heavy lifting 48 hours prior.................
Said the same Yes avoid heavy lifting 48 hours when I changed the 3 to 12 months.
Seems Google AI is not that smart. If I don't put in a time of how long ago prostate removed , it says no lift all you want. If I put in a time like 3 months ago, it says Yes limit heavy lifting.
@diverjer - sorry, I thought you were asking a generic question about PSA testing.
The last question I asked my surgeon before he turned me over to his NP for follow-ups was whether I need to follow all those PSA testing restrictions since I’d had my prostate removed, and he said no, I could ignore those.
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1 Reaction@diverjer
Worrying about a rising PSA after having your prostate removed is like worrying about the horses getting out and closing the barn door after they have already escaped.
Temporary exercise-related increases happen when physical pressure or friction stimulates prostate tissue. Without the organ, that source is gone.
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