I had another appointment with the urologist today. We're going the full MRI/biopsy route. I'm not exactly happy about that, nor am I unhappy. I'm having blood/urine tests again in a couple of weeks.
My levels are high enough to be concerning, but there isn't (at the moment) any indications of cancer. The tests in three weeks are to see if the PSA level is increasing at the same rate.
He tells me the biopsy will be 12 samples taken through the bum, rather than cutting through the perineum.
He says "the area" may be sore after, and there will be bleeding in both my pee and semen. Maybe even in my poo*. I'm to avoid sex for 6 weeks. I guess the blood thing could be off-putting.
It all seems rather bleak and grown up all of a sudden. It's like I should feel unwell, but I don't. I guess that's why so many people die untreated - by the time you're sick it's too late.
*I must admit, I never look at my poo. In France we get regular bowel cancer checkups, what we call shit stirring. You receive a paper sling for the toilet, a stick, and a plastic test tube. The idea is you poo on the paper, stir it up a bit with the stick, then put the stick in the test tube and post it off. I had my last test about 6 months ago and it was clear.