Clarification please?

[Blynnp]

Hi. I am hoping someone can give me some clarification…my dad has been on the “watch and wonder” roller coaster for 5 years now. He has had multiple MRIs and biopsies in the past, genetic testing too, all came back negative. The only thing out of whack has been the PSA. He did a round of 4 weeks of antibiotics in February to see if that lowered it. When it didn’t, he just had another MRI. For the first time it came back that they did find it. He said it was a “3 + 4” and he will have a biopsy this week. Can anyone explain what the difference in number levels between MRI and biopsy are? Is what they found on the MRI considered a Gleason score? Do they compare to the biopsy? Trying to make sense of all the info….thanks for any insight you might have

[addicted2cycling]

MRI = guessing game grading from IMAGE

Biopsy = "That's The Fact Jack" -- Gleason Score (include a second opinion) from actual samples and recommend the biopsy should be a trans-perineal method for obtaining the samples using MRI Guidance or Ultra Sound approach either FREE-HAND or better yet a Brachy Grid for insertion accuracy.

e.g. - perineologic.com/precisionp...

humorous memory -- youtube.com/watch?v=ZB52NEP...(Not working as expected?)

[Justfor_]

There is not one to one relation with what MRI and biopsy tell us. That is why MRI never reports in GS but they use their own scale of PIRADS. Both have their own significance and in general are complementing one another. Biopsy can miss the lesion/s altogether, MRI can't reveal the GS. The one that covers both bases is the pathology report post radical prostatectomy.

[Tall_Allen]

The MRI only shows suspicion. The biopsy will confirm or deny. Let us know. BT- he obviously does not have "advanced prostate cancer." You will find more men in his situation at the following forum:

healthunlocked.com/prostate...

[Hidden in reply to Tall_Allen]

Ok that is clear, thank you Allen!

[LearnAll]

Blynnp, Lets make some basic facts clear....High PSA does NOT mean it is prostate cancer...PSA can be high in several conditions such as infection /inflammation of prostate gland, benign prostatic hyperplasia (a non cancerous condition) and so forth.No body can determine Gleason grade on the basis of MRi. That's simply not possible. One has to see the prostate cells under a microscope to determine if it is 3+3,3+4 or higher.

And as for biopsy and seeing cells under microscope, it is subjective and depends on the pathologist who is grading the cells. In my case, three different pathologists graded my cells in 3 different ways and guess what...the most incorrect grade was given by a famous, center of excellence "ivory tower" cancer center pathologist. So I take the Gleason Grading with a big pinch of salt.

In your Dad's case, monitoring several biomarkers on regular basis and noting the pattern can be more useful. Besides PSA, PAP (prostatic acid phosphatase), monocyte count, platelet count ,bone ALP etc should be monitored.

The best way to know if prostate gland has a tumor is by Multi Parametric MRI, a specilised type of MRI which cuts images of prostate gland at where thin slices. Even a small tumor can not be missed by Multi parametric MRI.

Whatever be the outcome of test, one thing is certain by the data you provided that even if he has a prostate cancer tumor, it is most likely very very slow growing and that indicates many years or even decades of life left. Men die with such slow growing tumors and not because of them.

So let the Docs search the black cat in dark room and see if the cat is there in the room or its just a false alarm.

[j-o-h-n]

Right Church wrong Pew...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 05/29/2022 7:04 PM DST