Hi GinAndPlatonic. Welcome to the forum. 

I'm not a doctor. However I was diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer back in 2010 and had robotic surgery to remove it.  My PSA was about 5.6. After the biopsy I staged at T2 with a Gleason score of 3+4. After surgery when the organ was examined, the Gleason score was downgraded to 3+3.  My PSA has been < 0.1 since surgery and so far I've had no further treatment. 

Today, it's reasonably common to do a multi-parametric MRI scan of the prostate before the biopsy, and using those results to target the most suspicious areas.  This means that biopsies are less of a lottery than in my time. 

As you can see, my PSA was less than yours, when I was diagnosed. There are many activities which are reputed to increase one's PSA, but I've yet to hear of a doctor in the UK advising their patients to abstain from them prior to a test. The fact remains that even if your PSA is artificially raised, it's still twice what might be expected, and you're having urinary problems. You do the maths on those two equations!

I can understand that you're not looking for forward to a biopsy, but it seems to me that if ever there was a time to put your trust in the medical profession, it's NOW.

I recommend you don't waste any more time looking for reasons to deny what should be a no-brainer referral.  

Thank you Reet and thank you Telemando.

Unless I suddenly have a change of heart again, I have now reconciled myself to have the biopsies if the surgeon suggests it on Tuesday. I look upon the positive points I made about my peeing back to normal and the heavy excercise pssibly effecting results etc as just potential positives... I was probably in to some denial hoping for ways to say actually nothing would be found, so was looking for a way out..

But hey ho. I would rather know either way.

Thanks again.

Hi GinAndPlatonic.

What you're going through is 100% normal and there are times when denial is a good coping mechanism. However, I really do think you've made the right decision.

BTW, I forgot to mention earlier that there are a couple of websites dedicated to prostate cancer: Tackle Prostate Cancer and Prostate Cancer UK. The second site also has a forum which I think you'll find very useful.

Please let us know how you get on. Your feedback helps us to improve our answers. 

Thanks for that.:)

Hello Telemando.

I attended the Hospital yesterday. The Dr said my prostate feels normal. No biopsies taken but I am to have an MRI scan tomorrow (thursday). He was heartened to hear I had stopped all alcohol and coffee and that my peeing went back to normal within two days of stopping...He said he tells lots of people to stop coffee/alcohol as they cause bladder irritation in many people.

So he didnt have to test my urine flow etc and consequently decided that my prostate isn`t affecting my urine function, although he did take a urine sample for testing.

He mentioned my PSA count of 7.6 but as yet didn`t draw any conclusions & I guess it is a process of elimination first of all to find out what is ok and what if anything needs treatment..

I will wait and see what if anything the MRI scan throws up.

Thanks all.

That all sounds most promising. My guess is that you'll be having a "multi-parametric" MRI scan which is currently being trialled for prostate patients to detect suspicious areas of the prostate. Let's hope it finds none!  At least you'll be put feet first into the machine which is much more bearable than going in head first!  Take a CD of your own music with you and ask them to play it.

Please let me know how you get on, but you almost certainly won't get any feedback from the technician on the day.  The images will need to be reviewed by a consultant before you'll hear anything. 

I had an MFI head first. So not sure if it was telemetric. Im waiting for those results but I am optimistic as I did have a hand held ultrasound test three days afterwards for a matter that was seemingly unrelated but now I believe is connected..The stenographer that used the ultrasound scanner told me nothing is physically wrong with my core internal organs (great news)..he also went beyond his remit and scanned my prostate..he told me it is enlarged (that accounts for my peeing  more frequently than usual)..so if it is a benign enlargment, (benign prostatic hyperplasia) then personally, it will be great news and also at the same time account for my 7.6 PSA reading..as I say, I`m awaiting the MRI results..I am learning as I go along about this organ call the prostate:)

Fingers crossed that the MRI result shows nothing nasty! 

Thanks..I am thinking to myself lets hope it shows something benign..:)