Received MRI Results Today

It's a shock getting that kind of result, so give yourself time to go through the stages, and get support from people you love and trust.

I remember the exact moment I did, on 6 October 2021, when a doctor and intern walked up to my hospital bed late in the evening and started with "You probably want to know now ..." (I'd had the MRI earlier in the day). Before that, I hadn't even suspected cancer; I thought it was just a pinched nerve in my spine that was keeping me from walking.

It gets better, I promise, but you can't rush it. The good news is that (if I'm reading correctly) it doesn't seem to have left your prostate, so you have a good chance of curing it rather than just managing it.

Thanks for your comments. My initial reaction is I need this fixed NOW but I know I need to calm down and take the time to research and prepare. It changed the view of my life very quickly.
BTW, I'm north of the 49th border too.

It really would make sense for you to get a biopsy so you can find out what your Gleason score is, which can tell you if you have an aggressive cancer.

At your age, they would not recommend surgery. Radiation would be sufficient to treat your cancer and give you many more years. If the Lesions are just in the prostate, radiation can normally eliminate the threat of spread. My brother at 76 had only radiation and it seems to be working just fine for him.

If your Gleason score is Below eight, they would not usually consider ADT.

You want to get a PSMA pet scan to see if there is any spread in your body. An MRI is no longer the best tool for finding cancer in your body. The PSMA pet is the replacement for the MRI since it can actually find exactly where metastasis are.

@stew80 I agree with @jeffmarc, a fusion biopsy would be a reasonable choice and use the biopsy material to get a Decipher test. I had a PSA of 11 so high like yours but thanks to the Decipher test, my radiation oncologist ruled out ADT (Androgen Depravation Therapy). You can order it through your doctor and the results are easy to read. All five radiation oncologists I spoke with value the Decipher test. https://decipherbio.com/

Secondly, if you have cancer, and need radiation, you may want to pick a radiation machine that has built in MRI to minimize side effects and toxicity from exposed healthy tissue. Here is one doctor's discussion regarding the Mirage randomized trial that talks about that:
https://www.onclive.com/view/mri-guided-sbrt-could-represent-safer-more-precise-radiotherapy-option-for-prostate-cancer.

@stew80
I am 77 now. Had my prostate diagnosis when 76.
The normal and I say that from what most go through is a rising PSA number gets a referral to urologist who does a DME. He or she then orders a MRI. The MRI will show suspicious areas. It does NOT diagnose prostate cancer.

Your urologist will most like want to do biopsies of suspicious areas and possibly margins or other areas. The type biposie you get and how it is done is something that you really want to discuss with your urologist and do some research. Those on MCC can help with what they had done but it is a decision you should make of what is best for you. .

The biopsies will come back with a Gleason score. Until your get that Gleason score you do not know if you have prostate cancer nor the agressiveness of it. That Gleason score will help you uroloigst, a surgeon, R/O, offer treatments based on the Gleason Score.

When you do get your Gleason score talk to your Urologist, surgeon, or R/O mention other tests that those on MCC have had ( PSMA, Decipher, etc.). They help get a more precise diagnosis and degree of aggressiveness that can help defince and provide more inforamation on options for treatment.

Prostate cancer outcomes if caught early and had not metassisize is highly treatable with great outcomes for success. You have not got there yet but know there are some great treatments out there.

Since I came on MCC back in January 2023 I have seen so many new treatsments come up with some many more options that even a year and half ago were not being done or offered.
Good luck and keep coming back to MCC. I is why MCC is here!

When initially diagnosed (and beyond), it helped me to read Patrick Walsh MD's book Surviving Prostate Cancer and the free Patient Guide from the Prostate Cancer Foundation pcf.org (download or hard copy).
Best wishes.

@michaelcharles
When I chose to explore going to UFHPTI because the offered proton radiation treatments versus photon I subscribe to receive their infomation packet.

In that packet they went into the differences between proton and photon, research, and informaiton on their treatments. Part of the package was two books. One of those two books was Walsh MD's bood on surviving prostate cancer.

I have suggested MCC posters to asked for UFHPTI free information packed as it includes those books mentioned on MCC as well as ton's of informatino and research. UFHPTI is a State of Florida Medical Facility and the doctors and techs are all salaried.

This (salaried employees) was make clear to me my first consultation there and that any additional test they wanted to do would be based on what they felt I needed specificially with no financial incentive to them by ordering additional tests or the type treatments they would recommend.

It is a ton of information made free to anyone and regardless of where you chose to go it can help as so much information is given to you. I had not a single incident of anyone at any time pushing me to go there only to let them know if I wanted to.

My thoughts:-
Ask your consultant to provide his/her diagnosis. They can interpret your mri. You may need a biopsy (if you have not had one yet). The first diagnosis is always a shock to the system. Talk it through with your family support and any local groups. I cannot give you any specific help or advice at this stage. Be strong and get a professional assessment. I hope all goes well

Keep a positive attitude.

Thank you. This forum helps me to stay on the journey is a more hopeful way.