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Continue PSA surveillance or have a Prostate MRI?

Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Oct 28, 2023 | Replies (42)
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@jrobitai

JMHO A PSA of 7 is pretty low, esp at 72yrs. IDK about your insurance costs but I would definately recommend MRI over a biopsy.

True a biopsy is the only way to 'know', but a (3D) MRI (w/contrast) much less traumatic (too me) and will give you an idea of the extent of 'weirdness'

In fact the MRI results can be used to guide the biopsy if you go that route. If you do opt for a biopsy I found the bang-for-buck being in-office with nitrous. It cost me $80 but much less 'uncomfortable' than 'numbing' and waaay less expensive / time consuming than anesthesia.

I met w/a very renown urologist who said he never saw anyone "die from prostate cancer". IDK if I understood this correctly but I think his point was, in some cases, the treatment can be worse than not doing anything.

If I understand correctly, obviously some cancers metastasize and kill - maybe it's not prostate cancer at that point?

IDK

I am going to clear this up soon and if you care will share the clarification

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Replies to "JMHO A PSA of 7 is pretty low, esp at 72yrs. IDK about your insurance costs..."
shelby29 | @shelby29 | Oct 19, 2023

This is my understanding. All cancer cells have DNA. You can have prostate cancer in bones, lungs, etc. Despite where it is its still prostate cancer cells. Bone, lung cancer cells, etc have their own dna

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tgregg99 | @tgregg99 | Oct 19, 2023

Thanks very much! My doctor's advice with having the MRI and all the research I've read and comments received certainly make a strong case for having it. I'll keep your tip re: nitrous in mind, good one, may want to use it if allowable. I used it many years ago for a dental procedure, was effective.

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spino | @spino | Oct 19, 2023

Your story about the urologist of renown reminds me that when my father was actually hospitalized for the final time with metastatic lung cancer, his cancer doctor never showed up in the hospital. Perhaps the urologist of renown could consider a similar strategy?

From cancer.org "Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. About 1 man in 41 will die of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer can be a serious disease, but most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6497009/ "Prostate cancer is the second most frequent cancer diagnosis made in men and the fifth leading cause of death worldwide...."

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