Not new information but fairly concise regarding treatments

[Vangogh1961]

As a healthcare professional and new to this diagnosis, I was amazed MRI isn't one of the first tests to be done. I firmly believe it should be done similar to mammograms for monitoring. Especially since after my elevated PSA, which isn't routinely done by many physicians, the urologist documented "mildly suspicious", when I was positive in 10 cores. But the idea of MRI imaging for watchful waiting makes the most sense. It may be old news, but I thought it put everything in a concise manner.

medscape.com/viewarticle/97...

[Benkaymel]

Welcome Vangogh, I would also like to see routine screening put in place for PCa given that it's the most common cancer in men in the western world. In the UK, we have 2 yearly screenings for bowel cancer when you reach 60 but that is nowhere near as prevalent as PCa.

PSA screening is unreliable (although a high reading is very suspicious) so an option would be MRI screening scans, but this would obviously be expensive and I guess has a risk of exposing men to radiation from the scans, but I think that risk is very low and it would save a lot of men from reaching stage 4 before Dx as it was for you and me.

[Dont08759 in reply to Benkaymel]

Radiation from a MRI? Please elaborate as this is something new to me?

[Benkaymel in reply to Dont08759]

Sorry, you are right - radiation is not an issue with MRI scans. All the more reason to do screening!

[Seasid in reply to Benkaymel]

Maybe the possible allergic reaction to the contrast could be problematic (if it is needed at all? I am not an expert, only brainstorming.)

[Benkaymel in reply to Seasid]

I don't think contrast is used with MRI- at least it wasn't for my scan. It was used with one of my CT scans though.

[Seasid in reply to Benkaymel]

I really don't known for the prostate as I didn't have one, but it was used for my spine. And I believe somebody had an allergic reaction for the MRI contrast. I didn't have one.

[Benkaymel in reply to Benkaymel]

Ok, reading further comments I see that contrast is in fact used in some cases with MRI. Just not in my case.

[Gl448 in reply to Benkaymel]

My prostate MRI was with contrast…

[Dont08759]

I agree, it is a great idea! When MRI first came out in the 80’s (actually called Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, but changed due to marketing concerns), I was consulted about putting pigs asleep for studies on Sunday evening when no patients were around. Fun times that paid well…

[maley2711]

I think there have been studies re monitoring patients with MRI and skipping the additional biopsies until some amount of change in mRI reading........however, I believe I recall that those studies did not clearly demonstrate that MRIs could entirely eliminate the need for periodic AS biopsies. An evolving area of research.....as is most everything in the PCa world!

[dadzone43]

There is no radiation from MRI scanning.

[CSHobie]

Here in Ontario CT scans are performed but I have not heard of MRI being used for PCa.

Is MRI more expensive than CT?

[Hidden in reply to CSHobie]

For what it's worth, I had an MRI about a year ago, at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto.

[Vangogh1961 in reply to CSHobie]

MRI are more expensive than CT, but CT does not show the prostate with the clarity of the MRI and where best to do a biopsy if needed.

[Currumpaw]

I have written often that the smartest thing to do is find a uro or radiologist like Dr. Busch in Atlanta to have a mp 3-0T MRI with a real time, in bore, trans perineal biopsy if needed.

A MRI image isn't obtained by exposing the patient to ionizing radiation as ex-rays do. Magnets obtain the image. There is much info online about MRI's. Gadolinium is often used in the contrast solutions infused into patients, These are commonly used during MRI's. Gadolinium is a heavy metal. Chelating agents contained in the contrast solutions to assist the body in passing the gadolinium have in the past been ineffective. Chuck Norris' wife, Gena, nearly died from the gadolinium in contrast solutions when she had two MRI's in one week. After five MRI's heavy metals testing showed my gadolinium level to be 23X the amount expected to be found in someone that hadn't been exposed to gadolinium. There are chelating treatments and it can be done at home also. Japanese studies showed that two regions of the brain retained gadolinium more so than others. The MRI is the most accurate imaging technique today for prostate cancer and the trans perineal biopsy just about eliminates the chance of sepsis. Fluoroquinolone drugs should be refused if an antibiotic is prescribed as a prophylaxis. The fluoros have caused much harm to many including greatly increasing the chance of an aortic aneurysm.

Currumpaw

[Shorehousejam]

Welcome to the club that no one wants to be in…

NO MRI before RARP

My Husband whom was diagnosed last July

Had a MRI before biopsy

Received six months of triplecate therapy and docetaxel chemotherapy

He just had a Radical Prostatectomy with no MRI, no talk appointment before surgery, my husband and I understood was Davinci Radical Prostatectomy with extended lymph node removal. Surgeon removed 8 lymph nodes,

All negative Thank God for prostate cancer, the 9th resolved negative for pca due to chemotherapy.

We are praying there are no lymph nodes left with cancer.

Now we have to go back to the original surgeon where he was going to have the surgery originally to see if he should have an extended lymph node removal surgery with a cystoscopy. Or just radiation

Husband is furious surgeon removed 8 lymph nodes.

That it was not extended.

He is fed up with the games these reaching hospitals play with people lives

I’m going to wait and see what his medical oncologist states at our meeting.

[Andy1569]

Many people in our little community will suggest that PSMA Scan might be more appropriate than an MRI at certain times and or treatment levels.

Fight On!

Andy