Are you experiencing symptoms?

Especially at 75 I think a lot of doctors would think the downsides of treatment outweigh the upsides

MRI is done as a first step so they can perform a guided biopsy of any suspicious findings. First step is usually plain ultrasound biopsy (no MRI, fewer tissue samples, less invasive), the MRI plus guided biopsy is a more advanced diagnosis tool, more invasive, more tissue samples, the biopsy done under anesthesia.

Anonymous wrote:Bumping this up as my dad has high PSA level at recent checkup and doc scheduled an MRI for the end of July. No other symptoms. My parents are freaked out and said they can no longer make any plans until after the MRI- they cancelled attendance at a wedding for one week after the MRI. We were supposed to visit them in August too and they asked us to cancel our travel plans. Just curious how often high PSA levels result in prostate cancer diagnosis vs. something else? Dad is 75.

Did they indicate he’d probably need a biopsy too? Although I agree with PP that that could take a while to schedule if they haven’t already. It’s pretty unlikely they’d get him in for that a week later.

Is 6.2 high? I thought 12 was high

Do you know what your dad’s PSA number is?

I’m not a medical professional so I can’t address your question exactly, but I do have some experience with this stuff through my husband, who is in the process of waiting for a prostate biopsy.

It certainly doesn’t make sense for your parents to be cancelling plans so soon after the MRI. Even if the MRI shows the possibility of cancer, he would presumably still need a biopsy to confirm, which from our experience takes months to schedule.

Has your Dad had a Prostate Health Index done? It’s a blood test my DH had that was more comprehensive than just PSA and free PSA, and with our insurance it cost, like, $20. You get a number right on the test results that gives your % chance of having prostate cancer. In my DH’s case, it gave us both the additional information we needed to feel confident that he’s likely cancer-free (even though he’s still having the biopsy). It could give your Dad better information while he waits for the MRI, which might make him feel better about not cancelling everything.

Good luck to you. I am wishing the best for your Dad.

Bumping this up as my dad has high PSA level at recent checkup and doc scheduled an MRI for the end of July. No other symptoms. My parents are freaked out and said they can no longer make any plans until after the MRI- they cancelled attendance at a wedding for one week after the MRI. We were supposed to visit them in August too and they asked us to cancel our travel plans. Just curious how often high PSA levels result in prostate cancer diagnosis vs. something else? Dad is 75.

Anonymous wrote:Also how old are you? That is not an astronomically high PSA, so statistically, it is likely that if you do have something suspicious, it is small and/or slow-growing.

For example, my dad is in his early 70s. He initially had a biopsy several years ago when his PSA was about the same as yours. No PC.

I'm 51 and going for biopsy soon. PSA levels now at 4.5 multiple times in the last two months.

Also how old are you? That is not an astronomically high PSA, so statistically, it is likely that if you do have something suspicious, it is small and/or slow-growing.

For example, my dad is in his early 70s. He initially had a biopsy several years ago when his PSA was about the same as yours. No PC.

My dad went through this and I read basically the whole internet. I am a little confused about your urologist's recommendation. MRI is not diagnostic so it could not decisively confirm/ or rule out prostate cancer. Generally, the radiologist reads it and gives a PIRADs score, which is predictive of whether there is likely prostate cancer, and then suspicious areas, if found, are recommended for ultrasound-guided biopsy.

Getting the MRI first is generally thought to be more reliable than biopsy-ing blind in cases of high PSA, which is what some less sophisticated doctors will do. This can miss PC.

What is your PIRADs score? Why does your urologist want to do a biopsy? Is there something suspicious? What are they going to biopsy?

My dad ended up doing MRI, had a super high PIRADs score in three lesions, and has one lesion Gleason 6 prostate cancer that was recommended for active surveillance, meaning they follow up every three months and don't treat it unless it is changing.

I would probably do the biopsy because the doctor recommends it, but I would want to know why they are doing it. Seems like you need more info.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My PSA level at 6.2. MRI came back no evidence of prostate cancer. My urologist suggested ultrasound and biopsy next. An thoughts on how I should proceed further.

I suggest you post on an anonymous Internet forum of amateurs and follow their recommendations instead of listening to your doctor whose profession it is to tell you the best next steps.

Snaky and ignorant comment. There's nothing wrong with gathering more information from others that are having the same issues. Blindly following one doctor's guidance can be a really bad idea too. Ultimately we have to partner with the healthcare providers we choose, but it's up to each of us to make informed choices.

+1. The docs misdiagnose, misguide more often than you think. Signed…Interventional Radiologist

While I’m not a doctor, I think all will agree a second opinion here can’t hurt.

And prostate treatment has evolved over the past few decades. Radically.

As in: urologists have done a 180 on some treatments, especially for older men - and do not operate at all in some cases.

Defiantly worth exploring your husbands options in this region.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm wondering if you would share who your doctor is because my urologist wanted to do a biopsy for elevated PSA instead of an MRI. But I'd like to do as you did, an MRI first. Or at least I want to get more information. My understanding is 30-40% of men with prostate cancer have a false negative from biopsy. So how many times is a man supposed to have a negative biopsy before accepting and trusting the results?
6.2 is elevated but as I understand, it depends on your age, the presence of BPH, other possible conditions to elevate PSA, and the trend of your PSA over sevaeral months or years. Good lucky to you.

A normal MRI does not exclude the possibility of prostate cancer. There are many articles on this topic on the web

Is that true that the false negatives that high from biopsy? Alternatively, we can't ignore when the doctor suggested to go for biopsy, right? I'm scheduled for one, when MRI results came clean.

You should go biopsy and evaluate further.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My PSA level at 6.2. MRI came back no evidence of prostate cancer. My urologist suggested ultrasound and biopsy next. An thoughts on how I should proceed further.

I suggest you post on an anonymous Internet forum of amateurs and follow their recommendations instead of listening to your doctor whose profession it is to tell you the best next steps.

Snaky and ignorant comment. There's nothing wrong with gathering more information from others that are having the same issues. Blindly following one doctor's guidance can be a really bad idea too. Ultimately we have to partner with the healthcare providers we choose, but it's up to each of us to make informed choices.

+1. The docs misdiagnose, misguide more often than you think. Signed…Interventional Radiologist