Prostate biopsy means there’s cancer right??

[Hairsayitdontsprayit]

My dad has had MRI and now been referred for a biopsy next week. I need to prepare myself. Does this mean there’s almost definitely cancer? They wouldn’t be referring for biopsy unless they saw cancer in the scans right? I know prostate cancer doesn’t always mean the worst but I am going to video call my dad after his appointment and I feel like I need to prepare myself as I don’t really want to breakdown in front of him. I’m sad that I live hundreds of miles away and can’t be with him too. I know he won’t want me to be upset so I’m going to try hold myself together if it is bad news.

Does anyone have any recent experience of prostate biopsy on NHS?

Biopsy just means they are checking the sample for various things including cancer.

Even if they do find cancer, lots of older men live with slow growing prostate cancers, they aren’t always aggressive or a life sentence. Try not to think the worst just yet x

Honestly been through this in the last year, with recent confirmation of cancer. BUT it is not a concern. A huge amount of men have prostate cancer and don't even know. My father has a diagnosis of cancer but it's a small amount and they won't even treat it. Any symptoms he was having were all stress related.
Even if they decide to operate/treat it's not the worst thing in the world.

Thanks you both for your replies. I guess it doesn’t necessarily mean there is cancer and I know if there is it’s not always a concern as I’ve read many men die ‘with’ their prostate cancer, rather than ‘of’ it.

@DNLove glad your dads cancer was so small and not needing treatment. I have read the nhs website of all the treatments they offer and it seems like there are lots of options if it does need treatment.

I will try to stay positive x

Sorry to hear your Dad is having health problems. As pp's have said prostate cancer is definitely one of the more easily treated types.

Both my dad and my FIL had prostate cancer over 10 years ago and both were successfully treated with radiotherapy.

@BeckyWithTheGoodBear that’s very reassuring, thank you x

My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer 14 years ago. He had treatment at the time and, although we know the cancer has returned as his PSA has risen, he is perfectly well and symptom free.

Scan would have shown that the prostate was enlarged, not that it was enlarged due to cancer. Men can have Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia - which is exactly that - Benign.

If an MRI was conclusively diagnostic of cancer there would be absolutely zero reason to bother doing a biopsy.

Also prostate cancer is very slow growing, lots of men die with prostate cancer (from other age-related conditions) rather than of prostate cancer. The five year survival rate of someone diagnosed with prostate ca is near on 100%, at 10 years post diagnosis the survival rate is 98% and 15 years post diagnosis around 91%.

I wouldn’t worry too much, certainly not until there’s something to worry about, and even if it does turn out that he has prostate cancer, it is one of the better cancers to have been afflicted with (if you can ever really say that) - I hope you understand what I mean by that.

If an MRI was conclusively diagnostic of cancer there would be absolutely zero reason to bother doing a biopsy

Was coming on to say exactly this.

A close relative of mine recently had a prostate biopsy. They said it looked highly likely to be cancer but the biopsy results were negative for cancer.

2 negative biopsies here as well. My husband has very highPSA levels but scans and biopsies have shown no cancer. Lots of older men have enlarged prostrates which are not necessarily cancer. He has a blood test every six months and is “ in the system”.
Hopefully all will be well for your dad.

My relative also 10y past diagnosis
Other person is more liely to die of the dementia
To be honest im not sure why they would bother testing past about 75 as people arent then losing much quality life (as i understand there are womens cancer screening that isnt bothered with as they age)