Hello 729, 

Welcome to Cancer Chat. You've done the right thing to come here and to resist the temptation to just google things on the internet - you are right this inevitably brings up worst case scenarios and makes you worry even more. Poor you having to deal with this new issue when things were going well after your malignant melanoma diagnosis. It's great that your local surgery was so efficient in organizing all these tests in a short space of time. I hope you won't have to wait too long for your biopsy. I know it is really hard but try not to worry too much or anticipate what it might be. It won't be too long now before you get definite answers. 

I hope you will also hear from others here who have been through all this before and that they will be along soon to share their story with you. 

Keeping everything crossed for you that everything turns out fine. Keep us updated if you get a chance! 

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi 729.  Welcome to the forum, and boy have you been through the mill.

I'm not a doctor, but I have been treated for both prostate cancer (10 years ago when I was 56) and bladder cancer (last year). My wife also had a recent stroke and has been on clopidogrel, but now is on apixaban.

I presume your cystoscopy was clear which should eliminate bladder cancer.

Whilst a PSA of 9.2 is higher than normal, it's still (just) in single figures, so there's every reason to think that if it should be prostate cancer, then it's been caught early enough to be curable by surgery or radiotherapy.  If the cancer is still confined to the prostate, then the chance of a cure is very good indeed, and at 62 you're young enough for surgery to be an option, although taking clopidogrel does complicate matters.

I'm afraid all you can do now is await the results of the MRI, and most likely you will have a prostate biopsy.  Once all the results are in, you'll know where you stand and what options are open to you.  I hope I can reassure you that your situation is far from hopeless.

Try not to Google your symptoms, but if you must then you should avoid ALL US websites.  Their medical system is perverse and many hospitals quite cynically set out to frighten patients into using their services (and paying the frankly outrageous prices that US medicine costs).  Stick with British charities, such Tackle Prostate Cancer and Prostate Cancer UK.

Hi Lucie, Thanks for your quick responce.  Just waiting to hear back from the consultant on the MRI results, so it's fingers (and legs crossed) to see what he suggests is next. I was very impressed by the hospital being able to fit me in so quick for the MRI. It was a bit strange though, turning up at a deserted CT/MRI reception at the alloted 6pm appointment time, only to be met by a sign saying take a seat someone will be along shortly. Anyway, true to their word someone did your up 10mins later and take me though to the scanner, will keep you updated what happens next. Thanks again.
729.

I usually come out of my cystoscopies wishing that I'd taken a few selfies!  :laugh:

I went one better, and have got the CD with all my previous MRI scans on when I had my stroke. It definately was a talking point when I used a MRI scan of my brain as a screensaver at work :laugh:
And when I was in having the latest scans, the scanner operator gave me the phone number so I'm going to try get the matching set this time around, I'm going to be cheeky and ask if they can put the Ultrasound and cystoscopy video on the same CD. :laugh:
729.

Many years ago I read a humorous book called "Through the Alimentary Canal with Gun and Camera", written in 1930.  Now life imitates art!

Hi Lucie, and fellow members (of this 'club' no one really wanted to join :wink::laugh: ).

Just a quick update, yesterday the postman attempted to deliver a letter but it got stuck in the letter box :sad: It was the results of my latest MRI scan:  "Your recent prostate MRI scan does not show any definite features of concern, but there were one or two slightly eqivocal areas for which we would recommend a biopsy if your PSA has not fallen significantly.."

It then goes on to say the Consultant Urological Surgeon wants me to have another blood test (PSA) and urine sample (to exculde infection) asap. The sample pot provided was why the letter got stuck in the door! :happy: So I have just phoned the local surgey and they have booked me in for the tests 0810am Thur 12th Nov.  My question is: What do you think the Consultant meant when he said "but there were one or two slightly eqivocal areas.."? :confused:
729.

Hi 729.

You're quite right about the club no one wanted to join.  If you ever find a way of resigning, please let us all know.

The MRI is a brilliantly clever machine, and the latest multiparametric scans are great for picking out possible prostate cancers, but sometimes the technology isn't quite adequate to see what's going on and the "equivocal" areas are simply not clear enough to make out.  They may be something, or they may be nothing, but to make certain, a nurse will have to go old school with a needle!  It certainly doesn't mean that these areas are definitely cancer, they could be areas of infection. 

Let's not overlook the good news.  The MRI did not find any definite cancer.  That means that if there is any (and that's by no means certain) then it's very very tiny, very very early, and quite possibly will never cause you any problems. But if it does need treatment, then you'll have a whole range of curative options open to you.

Hi, Finally received the results of the latest PSA (Blood test) and urine sample (to exculde infection), and my PSA has fallen from the previous 9.4ng/L to 1.9ng/L  which the Consultant Urological Surgeon says is well within the normal range for my age (63yrs). :happy::happy::happy:

And he goes on to say that based on my MRI prostrate volume (40cc), a PSA of up to 6ng/L could be regarded as reassuring. He also said they are going to monitor my PSA at 6mthly intervals for the next few years, then move to anual PSA checks if all remains stable! :happy: If it were to rise above 6ng/L again they would re-refer me back to him for review.

So thanks to all that have posted :happy::laugh:.  All I can say to anyone else who has any worrying symptoms, is to have them checked out as soon a possible (even if you discover something during lockdown), and try not to worry yourself (maybe unnecessarily) by 'Googling the internet', and to only search UK sites like the NHS or Cancer Research UK.

729.