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Elevated PSA, still going up. 'Concerns' identified with MRI

Writewheel
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Hi, 

Thanks for letting me join. 

I'm 74, with a PSA of 13.7, up in six months from 10.6. I had an MRI where the consultant said there was an anomoloy that concerned him. I'm now due for another MRI, but this seems to be mainly to assist a biopsy. 

I'm fit, walking every day and doing minor weights and exercises. However, I have a problem with full anaesthetics. My heart ran at 180bpm and then stopped for 7 minutes during a biopsy when I was in my 40s. There were problems with a later full med which makes it seem that an op to remove any cancer might be out of the frame.

I've got lots of questions, and hoping that this forum might explain things.

Writewheel

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    Hi Writewheel. Welcome to the forum.

    I'm not a doctor and I have NO medical qualifications.  I was diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer back in 2010, and I had a radical prostatectomy.  I've not required any more treatment since then (so far!).  Since my surgery I've played an active role in my local prostate cancer support group, so I've picked up some knowledge along the way. 

    I'm sorry to hear you're in this situation, but there's every reason to think that any cancer would be early stage.  These are relatively easy to treat and usually can be cured.  Of course, it may not be cancer, so let's hope it isn't. 

    A standard prostate biopsy is usually done with local anaesthetic and not under general anaesthetic, so you should be ok for that. 

    Whether or not you're suitable for a surgical removal of the prostate depends on a number of factors.  I believe anaesthetic drugs have moved on in the last 30 years so maybe it would no longer be a problem, but it's well outside anything I know about.  If you're not suitable for surgery, then there are a number of alternatives, with radiotherapy being the most common option.  You might also be offered hormone therapy to shrink the cancer before radiotherapy.  Or the cancer might be so small and tame that the doctors decide just to leave it in place and monitor the situation. 

    Please let us know how you get on.

  • Offline in reply to telemando

    Thanks for your reply. Nice and clear.

    I should have had two consultations with the specialist and an MRI last year, but Covid put paid to that. I've not much experience of hospitals, only having gone in them for two biopsies, both of which gave rise to problems with the anaethetics. (When I was a kid, a loved aunt went into hospital for one thing and while in there died of something else. No one seemed surprised. I've tried to stay away since.) I await the biopsy. Thanks again. I'm not normally a worrier.

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