Prostate MRI. Know your options.
Posted , 17 users are following.
Hello. Just wanted to give a summary of my situation. I had a PSA of 1.9 in 2014. It had stayed in that range until around 2017. That is when I decided to have to have FLA done by Dr. K (with ok results, I am back on flomax doing pretty well). Fast forward to April of 2018: I went back to my URO and had a PSA of 3.5. Then in October of 2018 it went to 4.25. Due to the relatively quick increase, he suggested a prostate biopsy. I was never really concerned about the increasing PSA and cancer connection as I knew (and Dr. K confirmed) that any type of procedure can increase PSA levels). However, I felt like I needed to make sure. I eventually called his nurse to advise I was going to have a 3T MRI done before any type of invasive biopsy procedure. She told me that they can request the MRI for me and it would be covered by insurance. My first thought was why wasn't this the first suggestion by the doctor? I think we know the reason why.
The MRI came back negative and all is well.Please know your options and you should always consider the least invasive option first. Technology is a wonderful thing.
1 like, 42 replies
steve07664 Trustme
Posted
The very first urologist I saw wanted to do a biopsy, in his office, based on a high PSA test. At the time I knew absolutely nothing about the prostate, but given how drastic the procedure sounded, I asked him if there was ANY kind of imaging test we could do beforehand, whether ultrasound, CT, or MRI. He said NO, absolutely and definitively.
I left, went home and googled it, and found out that he had just lied to my face. My first lesson in never trusting a urologist without doing research.
This was only 5 years ago, so prostate MRI's had already been around for a long time.
glenn77 steve07664
Posted
I hope you've found a new urologist and had the MRI by now!
kenneth1955 glenn77
Posted
Hello All
Yes you need to find a good Urologist that will do any test before a biopsy.
Speaking for myself. I would rather have a MRI instead of a needle biopsy. Had a 12 needle one years ago. It was painful and after very uncomfortable.
Have a great day....Ken
barney34567 kenneth1955
Posted
If in doubt I suggest the MRI, ideally a 3T.
If reported on by an expert, and not a jack of all trades radiologist, such a MRI can indicate if a biopsy is needed and if so, then a MRI guided by ultrasound biospsy is a good option.
kenneth1955 barney34567
Posted
Hey Barney
That is a very good suggestion. You would think a doctor would want to do a MRI first. Then go from there. The MRI would show the tumor. But it seams like they are doing it the other way and lying to the patients.
That is why it is good to know something before you see a doctor.
Have a great day.....Ken
barney34567 kenneth1955
Posted
Ken you're right. Many docs are self centered and don't always do what is in the patient's best interests.