Questions for Urologist regarding enlarged prostate

Your enlarged prostate probably caused this problem. Ask your urologist if you had BPH and maybe you should be on an anabiotic‘s.

It does sound, however, like your problem has gone away and it’s probably not prostate cancer.

You mentioned having an enlarged prostate:
> what size was it then?
> what size is it now?

Flomax (Tamsulosin) helps relax bladder, muscles and tissues to help with urination issues, but shouldn’t have reduced the prostate size. (Finasteride does that.)

Be cautious about using too much Flomax. Besides relieving urination issues, it also lowers blood pressure and can cause dizziness/vertigo. Especially a problem if you’re already on blood pressure medication.

Question to ask:
> Will they do a 3T mpMRI of your prostate?

I don’t have a second size on prostate but should I be asking for a comparison and to be on a reducing med for prostate. Flowmax is working well and yes it lowered my blood pressure so I had to reduce my high blood pressure meds. But very little side effects.

Don’t know your age but I agree with Brian that perhaps a 3T MRI might be a good idea - if for nothing else but to get a baseline image.
Many times, normal prostate enlargement, UTI’s and PCa can all occur simultaneously in any combo or alone.
I started out with BPH and had Green Light laser surgery…and today I am here on this forum after two bouts with PCa. My cancer surgeon had a very strong suspicion that my cancer was there all along with the BPH and simply not pursued.
You GOTTA be pro-active with this crap and take nothing for granted.
Phil

I had an enlarged prostate for 7 years. 2 MRIs over that time negative. My first biopsy was negative. I was on Flomax which helped, but still had peeing issues. My PSA was up to 7.7, which my urologist said was consistent with my prostate size. We decided to have a second biopsy, and showed two cores of cancer. I had it removed in 2023 and have had 5 PSA tests since, all < 0.01. I would actually suggest you get a biopsy. For whatever reason, my MRIs showed nothing. Best of luck.

Hey thank you for all the suggestions that’s exactly what I was looking for. I will ask about 3T MRI and biopsy at my follow up. I kinda think Urologist will disagree but will see what he has to say about it and if he doesn’t think it necessary I will ask my primary and see what he says. Thanks again and best of luck to you all and your battles

@al6
I think you are getting good advise from the experience of others who have had similiar situation as yours.

You can always get a second opinion which can help ease your mind.

The expereience of others who were under the impression only prostate BPH and not cancer can pass on their experience with this and show you their decision to have test to be sure.

I had a normal PSA just rising numbers and no prostate side afffects. MRI showed suspicious areas and biopsies confirmed cancer. My PCP was proactive and wanted to rule out cancer with availabe test that help with that diagnosis.

In general good to keep in mind that a urologist is a surgeon. By and large primary care MD is not. So which way the bias goes is an open question. My own feeling is the surgeon is more likely to be aggressive and push for a biopsy. FYI I’m an old cardiologist so different field but long experience with doctors in and out of hospital setting.

I'm 79 and have been diagnosed with BPH and "enlarged prostate" for several years. MRI in 2023 showed a lesion which led to a biopsy showing 2 out of 12 areas with Gleason 3+3 and 3+4. PSA was on the high side (7.67 before the MRI) but has dropped to 4.7 more recently. Advice above to ask about an MRI is what I'd suggest. Keep up with the PSAs more often. Good luck.