Glad to have found this group
Got my MRI results yesterday.............I had visited with a Urologist at Northwestern Medicine did initial blood work and my Prostate Health Index was 132.02 my P2PSA is 54.98 pg/mL my PSA Total was 18.89 ng/mL my PSA Free was 1.81 ng/mL and my Free PSA % was 9.6 - the MRI showed my prostate size as 5.2 CC x 3.1 AP x 4.7 cm for an overall volume of 39.7 cc with a PSA density of 0.48 there were 3 lesions one was 3.0 x 2.0 cm - the second was 1.8 x 1.0 cm and the last 0.8 x 0.6 cm all were considered category 5 and confined to the prostate. I have a biopsy schedule on June 15th - the other information I was provided was "there is a prominent rounded right pelvic sidewall lymph node measuring 0.7 cm with loss of fatty hilum (21/33). While the lesions worry me, the mention of the lymph node scares me to death. My Urologist mentioned hormone therapy with additional MRI's to look at the lymph node and pelvic region. I am so glad to have found this group and hope that I might find someone else who is in the same boat as I am. Thank you all in advance for any information you can share.
So they think, based on the MRI that a lymph node is involved?
Be sure to update the group on the biopsy results.
Trans perenial biopsy is better than trans-urethral. Ask which the doc plans to do.
What type of doc do you have? Urologist? Medical oncologist? etcThey want to do a follow up MRI after the biopsy to ensure the lymph nodes and bones are not involved. The radiologist noted the enlarged lymph node and my Urologist is not concerned, as it is less than 1 cm - but wants to get a better understanding of what is going on. I am scheduled for a transrectal ultrasound scan (TRUS) and biopsy. I am seeing Urologist and he will be doing the biopsy. During my initial discussions to review my history and after my blood testing (and before the MRI) he was pushing for hormone therapy. Once we have the information from the biopsy I will want to see an oncologist to get their opinion on what the best course of treatment is..............I have some level of comfort in that there was no rush to get an MRI after the initial bloodwork (was about 4 1/2 weeks ago) and again no rush for the biopsy either (3 weeks out) and he keeps reassuring me that I am not going to die from prostate cancer, but it is still a shock.
I see you are beginning this journey with Northwestern Medicine. I assume you are in the Chicago area? I ask because I am also in northern Illinois and began my journey 3 years ago this fall at a smaller local hospital. When my PSA had slowly increased from 3 to 5.6, I had a biopsy (not that painful it is quick and only slightly embarrassing). My biopsy results came in as high risk because 5 of 6 areas biopsied, came back as positive with one Gleason 9 score and 3 Gleason 8 scores. Urologist was surprised that with these biopsy results that my PSA wasn't much higher.
Started getting 2nd opinions at Northwestern Medicine (because they are affiliated with the National Cancer Institute, and have a great reputation). After 2nd opinion visits with 3 NWM doctors (one urological oncologist, a radiation oncologist, and a high volume robotic surgeon whom is also a prostate cancer researcher), I chose robotic surgery which occurred at the age of 62, in March of 2001. Am currently being monitored via ultra PSA tests every 3 months - so far so good.
Good luck with your upcoming tests and please keep us posted, lots of experienced caring on this forum.Thank you for the information and good wishes cuzed, it means alot. I live on the South side, moved here from Omaha, Nebraska 32 years ago. I am 65 and have not had any issues, except elevated PSA scores the past two years, the only symptom I have is sometimes it takes a few seconds to start urinating, I have none of the other symptoms. I am very comfortable with my Urologist and once the biopsy is completed will look forward to speaking with Oncologists and seeing what options I have before me. I continue to be thankful for this forum and the feedback I have received and seeing that you have lived with and through your diagnosis for over 22 years gives me a great deal of hope. Thank you again for responding.
