In article <
310a804a-8ca3-4c29-a091-0606c31729c0@googlegroups.com>, Tony
Como <
tonycue2001@gmail.com> writes:
I'm awaiting a biopsy and just wondering if anybody here has had this experrience or knows the answer to this question re: 3T MRI scanners. Briefly: 58 Years old, Live in UK so under NHS, been referred by GP and having tests at hospital for a sudden rise in PSA from regular 3.1 to
7.5 after a 14 month gap between tests.....
That gap was much too long. If the value continues to rise rapidly,
it's probably cancer.
Whilst waiting for hospital to get in to
uch went to a private clinic for a new PSA test with "Free PSA".....This
test came back at 4.3 PSA and a free PSA of 23%.(2 weeks later)....
Two men say they're Jesus: one of them must be wrong. If the numbers
disagree this much, either the value has really change, or at least one
of the tests is wrong. If a value is unexpected, test again as soon as possible. Best is to always test at the same place. There will be
differences between labs, but the main thing is the change in the value.
Also had a
consultation with private consultant from this clinic who specialise in prostate health and problems. This guy is a well known Professor of urology with an international reputation, many books and papers published etc....40 minute consultation and DRE and he tells me "No Cancer".....
There is no way he could know this, and it is probably wrong.
So since then I have been called to hospital, had a cystoscopy (Tests clea= r)...a CT Urogram and a 3T MRI....They wanted to give me a biopsy, but in l= ight of the lowered test result and the "diagnosis" from the Prof I asked m= y hospital consultant (via his secretary as I have yet to meet him) if I co= uld swerve the biopsy and see what the MRI threw up...He agreed. ....Hospit= al appointment yesterday to discuss results with urology dept. Doctor calle= d me in, never introduced himself, was a bit stand offish, not unpleasant b= ut very business like, asks why I did not have the biopsy? (he isn't the co= nsultant obviously) I explain my reason and he asks to see the lowered test=
results, I show him. He explains that the MRI is showing "something" and i= t is small. I ask him if it is confined to the gland (it is) ....But they n= eed to do a biopsy to see what it is. I say that I thought that a 3T MRI co= uld tell the difference between something nasty, something benign or inflam= mation....He says that this is not the case, his words were something like:=
"PSA means nothing, Free PSA means nothing, Scan means nothing only a biop= sy can see what this is"=20
Almost. PSA (free or not) can tell you that something is amiss, but not whether it is cancer, especially not with your values. An MRT cannot
tell whether or not something is cancer, but there are a few experts who
almost always guess right when seeing an MRT, but these are rare. He is correct: biopsy is the only way.
It's not as bad as you think.
I now feel like I have shot myself in the foot as I have now booked a biops= y for 2 weeks time and the results 2 weeks after that, so instead of findin= g out yesterday I now have another 4 weeks to sweat before I get a (maybe) = definitive answer.
Shouldn't be a problem for your values.
......Basically my question is this: Has anybody had the
experience where an MRI scan has shown up something which turned out to be nothing to worry about ie BPH or Prostatitis
I had the biopsy first then the scan. What scans can do is show a
CHANGE in the tumour, but you want to know if it is cancer or not.
My recommendation: Read up on what sort of treatment you want to have.
I have a list of about 15 different ones. Even if it is not cancer now,
you might get it later. If it is cancer, then monitor the PSA once a
month. If it gets above 10 and stays there until the next month, get
the cancer treated.
Most men die WITH but not OF prostate cancer. Most don't know they have
it. Usually it is harmless. But if it is not, get it treated early,
otherwise you risk lifelong impotence and/or incontinence and even death
(once it metastizes it is very difficult to treat and it is very
painful, spreading mainly to bones and teeth).
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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