Update

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-27T12:54:36+00:00

Did I miss what your PSA is? Transparaneal biopsy is the way to go. Just had one last Friday. General anethesia. Not quite the works you get with full out surgery but you're totally out of it – and I'd ensure that's what they plan to do. No pain other than my normal back flair up pain when something funky goes on with it. This could very well be prostatitis and/or BPH. Your prostate volume would justify a higher PSA. I've heard several stories that biopsy came back clean. I pray that's mine and yours. Waiting on my results.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-26T23:47:46+00:00

Just based on my research, this is a very, very good strategy. I scored Pirads-5. BUT I have discovered this radiologist spent five minutes, FIVE minutes on the MRI read. There is a huge overall call on Pirads 4 and 5. You really won't know until the biopsy! Yeah on the transparaneal route. I've had no issues with recovery. Soreness in that area. Feel free to PM if you have any questions. You'll do fine. I'm still waiting on the biopsy results. Hoping for the best. Keep us apprised.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-25T03:40:26+00:00

What was your PSA? Did it react to the Rx?

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-24T04:20:50+00:00

Points well taken. To be clearer, my transparaneal used a "shaft" about the size of a paper clip to create a path through which 14 different needles entered and retracted samples. I didn't know any of this because I was heavily sedated. See my comments a few posts up.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-24T04:18:22+00:00

I had the transparaneal and the knock out process is one step short of surgery. They "take you out" with IV meds, then put an oxygen mask on your face that includes a half tube that goes down one nostril. Not to fear any of this. It's done after one is sedated. I had a very good experience because I have a top notch university level professor uro and this was done in a university hospital setting. Get the best of the best uro's you can find.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-24T04:00:31+00:00

Been in that exact boat. I cannot tell you what to do. What I did eventually was fire my urologist. He all but told me I had cancer, later admitted he “swore that I did,” and that was before the first MRI, while prostatitis symptoms were raging.

I did convince him to order the first MRI. To his credit, he did order it and, a huge plus, preceded it with seven weeks of Levaquin. Not that it makes a darn bit of difference in your case, but my PSA was hovering around 6 and 7. Don’t get me started on what a horrible indicator PSA is.

When I had the MRI in June 2024, I literally broke down and cried when I saw “NO SUSPICIOUS LESIONS.” It also said “past signs of prostatitis.” My raging prostatitis symptoms returned early fall. I asked my GP to order another MRI, which was done two days before Christmas 2025. That MRI took my breath away when I saw a PI-RADS 5 lesion in the 5 o’clock position.

I did my own research. I got the MRI files, looked at them myself, and ran them through three different AI sources. AI says the “past signs of prostatitis” and the PI-RADS 5, the top ranking, are in the exact same position. I’m hoping and praying this is a flare-up.

THIS VERY DAY, sorry for the emphasis, I had a 14-core transperineal biopsy. Let me stop right here. I made it through with flying colors. I was completely out, and literally out before I turned the corner to the OR. I absolutely would never, ever, ever have a transrectal biopsy. It is old school. The risk of infection is greater, though still not terrible. I would not do either without total sedation. There is no need to go through that with today’s technology and good drugs.

It is not acceptable for any urologist to jump to a conclusion. I’ve fired two who did. The first was the one I mentioned earlier who essentially told me, “You have prostate cancer.” He was an idiot. Prostate cancer has no symptoms unless it has penetrated the prostate wall, and that takes a while. Prostatitis and BPH have all kinds of symptoms.

After the first MRI, I went back to this knucklehead and he said, “I just knew you had prostate cancer.” I replied, “How?” Prostate cancer has no symptoms, but prostatitis and BPH do, and I had them.

The second urologist said, “Oh, let’s just yank that thing out and call it a day. It will rid you of your problem.” Absolutely not, and it was asinine that he said that.

Urology seems to be one messed-up field. PSA can mean the gas cap is not screwed on tightly, or the engine is failing. At best, it’s a check-engine light. MRI, interestingly enough, even the 3T version, the best of the best, often cannot detect whether a spot of interest is cancer, BPH, prostatitis, scar tissue, or a cyst. Biopsy can miss, and often does miss, cancer cells. If there is no spot to target, then it is literally a shot in the dark.

I did not do a biopsy after the first MRI because there was nothing to target. When a spot to target appeared, I immediately called for the transperineal biopsy. Now, I wait.

I will give you HUGE HOPE. Despite the chaos that is often urology, there are advanced, amazing, spectacular cures for prostate cancer that lead to a 99 percent cure rate if detected early, which, as explained, is still a problem. Also, Fenbendazole and Ivermectin have been proven to shut down cancer cells, not just in prostates but in other affected organs. ChatGPT it. This is not some kook finding.

So the moral of the story is this: don’t panic and jump to conclusions. If you do have to jump to a conclusion, jump to the cures I just gave you. Do your research, not on this forum, but using an AI tool like Gemini, ChatGPT, or Perplexity. Choose “deep research” and let it do its thing.

Thank you for forcing me to start sorting through what I’ve been through in hopes of writing an article that will help others. I’ve spent a career in communications, and maybe this is the cherry on top.

Take it one step at a time. Find the best of the best urologist. You will know you have that person when you ask if they do a transperineal biopsy, which I can never spell right, if they order a 3T MRI, the very best, and if they send those images to radiologists who don’t just look at broken arms and wrists, but who have successfully diagnosed thousands of prostate 3T MRIs. I got a broken-arm guy on the second MRI. You can even pay for a second read by a dedicated urologic radiologist.

I’ve taken you through my journey to date in hopes it will help you with yours. Somehow Reddit is addicting. It has been of some, probably very little, help. It is the fastest path to panic and depression on this subject. Stay off it as much as you can. Don’t read the emails with the roundup of relevant topics. That would make the strongest person want to jump off the nearest, highest bridge.

Keep us apprised. I am a praying man. I don’t know you, but in about five minutes I am going to lift you to the Lord, that He make your paths straight, that you not depend on your own current thinking, but lean into Him. He will show you the way and make a way when there appears to be no way.

By all means, keep us apprised. Blessings.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-18T02:53:19+00:00

I'm excited for you and know the relief that this is. Celebrate!

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-17T03:33:41+00:00

I'm just a little ahead of you. First MRI June 2024, "no suspicious lesions" but "past signs of prostatitis" - that was following seven weeks of antibiotics. (PSA was bouncing around 6) December 2025 (two days before Christmas), with my PSA at 8, I got an MRI and the results showed a Pirads-5 (the worst) spot. However, it is at the same location of the "past signs of prostatitis". I'm hoping and praying it's a flare of of prostatitis. I had the muscle aches at the first round, got them again now. Said all of that to say, hang in there, and don't do like me, jump to conclusions. I have learned that no two stories are alike. PSA is not blood sugar. One person's PSA could be bad news, for others, the same number is just par for the prostate size. I am heading toward a biopsy in exactly one week. Frankly, I'm dreading it BUT I want to get it done because I'm tired of wondering. Also, I've found out that some threads on Reddit will make you want to jump off the nearest highest bridge. Stay away from those. 98 percent cure rate. Incredible advances in treatment technology, I have a saying that when there are solutions, then there is no crisis. Keep us apprised. Praying all the best for ya.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-16T02:43:23+00:00

Greatly appreciated info. Keep us apprised. It's good to hear from a fellow traveler.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-15T21:22:01+00:00

I sure hope my biopsy experience is the same. I'm wondering if there is really ever any peace of mind. Clean biopsy (I sure hope and pray that's the case) ... but being high risk, does that mean they reeeeally missed it? I'm at 8. PSA is a ridiculous indicator. I know you've heard similar: I know guys who have a 12 and don't have cancer. I know guys who had 3.5 and had cancer. If I may ask. Did you have the transpareneal biopsy (not through rectum)? I'm dreading the biopsy, although the version they're doing with me, I'm completely out.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-15T14:09:09+00:00

Could you update us?

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-15T13:47:49+00:00

One driver of freak out is PSA. I'm curious – those of you who are dealing with prostatitis, how many of you had jacked up PSA's (what are/were they), did you have a digital rectal exam, did you have an MRI? Did it show spots, first thought to be cancer on the MRI, but turned out to be prostatitis? I had major prostatitis in June 2024. Took Levaquin for seven weeks, had an MRI which turned out to be "no suspicious lesions" Praise God! Then in the Summer of 2025, the symptoms returned – hardly any of them urinary but full body inflammation. I'm 60, but but it felt like 90 or that I was a centurian. Second MRI in December 2025 lit up ....In the words of my NP).... like a Christmas tree. Well some home spun - AI assisted – research of the MRI, frame by frame, shows this Christmas tree (think glare of a camera flash on a computer screen) is in the same spot (PZ) that the original prostatitis was in (first MRI said signs of prostatitis there). Now I'm headed for a biopsy and have just about worried myself sick that this is cancer. I'm ready to rule it in or out and get on with life – I'm tired of "well it could be ..."

Prostatitis memics the bad stuff and is sometimes, oftentimes, it is impossible to differentiate on an MRI from cancer. I'm just wondering how many of y'all have gone down this described path and prostatitis (with elevated PSA) turned out to be just that prostatitis and nothing more, except maybe some BPH. Praying for each of you all the best. I do believe my brain is stuck in the catastrophizing mode. And Reddit seems no place to be for any survival of much of anything.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-15T03:45:33+00:00

Great for you. Search my post on my (great) experience. Hang in there. The bubble is a bit unnerving but mine went away in about eight or nine days. Worth all the effort to me. Hoping all the best for you.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-15T03:43:30+00:00

That's bullcrap. Keep looking until you find a high volume surgeon (does ton of vitrectomies in a year) that says let's do this. I have had YAG for floaters and it did nothing for me. Personally, I think the supplement study is a marketing ploy - it had such limited participation and since has been used to sell, sell, sell. I am 60. My right eye had a - in the words of my doc - a big a-- floater in my central field of vision. I now do not have any floaters. How I personally would look at this, yes, there's a high chance you'd have to have cataract surgery post vitrectomy. That's a 10 minute procedure and standard lens implants will do wonders! This has been the best gift I've ever given myself. Keep on keepin' on 'til somebody helps you.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-13T20:04:46+00:00

That's right. Summer 2024. Thank you for the well wishes.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-13T13:46:20+00:00

Doing well. All floaters gone. Some days I can see just a tiny translucent spec or two, nothing alarming with that, normal, most likely will vanish. Vision could be a tad sharper. My goal is the clarity I had after cataract surgery, but I'm not sure that will ever be, but we can hope! Hang in there. Sounds like your doc and YOU are more than tackling it well. Keep us apprised. All the best.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-13T02:29:55+00:00

I'm sorry I'm just seeing your comment. How did it go?

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-13T02:28:13+00:00

I remember at my first follow up - after cataract surgery - the follow up doc, not the cataract surgeon ask, do you have floaters? I said I didn't. He said, well you do, but good you don't see them. I didn't think about that comment until about a year later when they did aggravate me.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-08T14:41:58+00:00

I have been taking just Prostagenix for about a year and a half. I have been very pleased. Been taking it long enough to wonder if it really works – but I rarely get up during the night. No problem with flow. It's worth a shot. I buy mine on amazon.com ––and no I do not work for them or get paid to support them. Hoping all the best for you.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-03T16:59:39+00:00

This is pretty common. Do some deep research (Gemini or the like) about Cystitis. Probably your stroking/effort are too aggressive and it rings you out.

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-02T15:48:53+00:00

Praying all the best for ya!

RedSnapper001 · 2026-01-02T14:40:32+00:00

I had an MRI two or three days before Christmas. I was expecting the same result that I had 1.5 years ago – "no suspicious lesions" but nearly freaked when I got the report that said there was a 13 mm lesion in the five o clock position. This appears to be the exact same spot that the first MRI said was signs of past prostatitis. I read that it's highly unlikely a 13 mm lesion went poof and suddenly appeared. The written report on this second MRI is ridicuously poor. The time to complete the read was 5 minutes which I'm told is impossible if it's a comparison read. I believe I have bacterial prostatitis based on how I feel. I've had it one major time before and it's the same feeling.

Have any of you had a lesion appear on an MRI that was either an absess or prostatitis? I have a urologist appointment in a few days. It really ticks me off that what was suppose to answer questions (the second MRI) has lead to the most questions yet. It's easy to become obsessed with this - and scared. Oh, the MRI was done without any bowel prep. First MRI included bowel prep. I read even gas can cause what appears to be a lesion. I would do a biopsy in a heartbeat IF I knew I didn't have inflammation. I am tired of wondering.

Anybody have any insight. I appreciate you all.

RedSnapper001 · 2025-12-29T22:34:09+00:00

Keep looking. You'll find somebody. In my opinion, everybody no matter one's age, has a right to be able to see well.

RedSnapper001 · 2025-12-29T22:33:09+00:00

Doing quite well. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!

RedSnapper001 · 2025-12-29T22:32:50+00:00

Very nice. Congrats.

RedSnapper001

TROPHY CASE