Concerned about the health of your prostate?

Most medical insurance companies only fund treatment for patients who have developed symptoms and have a GP or consultant referral. The MRI Prostate Health Check service is open to self-referrals and includes men with no symptoms. It is designed as a health check.

PSA testing allows men to undergo prostate cancer checks. We know men can have significant prostate cancer with a normal PSA. An MRI Prostate offers the opportunity to identify significant prostate cancer in those men whose PSA has been speculated to be normal for their age. Data from the re-imagine study group showed that high quality MRI scan using T2 and DWI (diffusion weighted imaging) sequences by high volume reporting radiologists picked up significant cancer in 1 in 6 men who had an upfront MRI. Some of these men had a PSA less than 3ng/ml, who would not be eligible for further investigations under some guidelines. There is growing evidence especially from UK research groups, Re-Imagine and IP1 prostagram study which shows then benefit of MRI being able to pick up significant prostate cancers without over diagnosis.The NHS is working hard to improve cancer diagnosis at an earlier stage. Re-Imagine and IP1 prostatgram study helps provide research evidence to support screening MRI as an adjunct to PSA.Prostate health checks using MRI allows significant cancers to be detected earlier and therefore allows patients to have a range of curative treatment options or active surveillance at the earliest opportunity.

Yes, with our MRI Prostate Health Check, GPs and clinicians can refer their patients for a self-pay prostate MRI scan. According to NICE Guidelines, “In the absence of symptoms, GPs should discuss the pros and cons of PSA tests with the patient. If a subsequent PSA test result shows raised PSA levels, the GP should use their clinical judgement to consider whether a referral is appropriate.”You can either provide your patient with a referral letter and direct them to our website, where they can upload their referral and request a scan. Or you can complete the referral form yourself on their behalf via the Referral page for clinicians on our website. NB: This service is not covered by Private Medical Insurance. Your patient will be charged at the time of booking.

A biopsy is undertaken to check for prostate cancer if your MRI results identify potentially cancerous areas that require sampling.For more information about prostate biopsies visit Prostate Cancer UK.

A prostate biopsy is one of the most accurate ways to diagnose prostate cancer. However, because it is an invasive procedure, other screening methods including prostate MRI scan are offered to men.

If your results show you are at risk of prostate cancer or have prostate cancer, you and your GP will be informed and your GP can refer you back into the NHS for further treatment or to a private urologist if you prefer.

Although an ultrasound of the prostate can detect most cases of prostate cancer with good accuracy, MRI scans are more accurate.

An MRI scan can be used to produce almost immediate images of the prostate gland and any suspicious areas which can then be examined by a qualified specialist radiographer to give you more insight into what is going on in the prostate.

The water pipe known as the urethra passes through the prostate. As the urethra is squeezed by a change in prostate size, symptoms can develop.These symptoms may present with difficulty in passing urine or waking up at night, often disturbing sleep for men and their partners. It is difficult to distinguish from symptoms alone if they are related to age-related growth of the prostate or cancer.This is where a GP can offer counselling about the merits of further tests, such as the PSA.

Yes, you can self-refer for private prostate MRI if you are experiencing prostate problems and have a PSA level test result.

All results are sent to you AND your GP or referrer, even if you referred yourself. This is so your GP has complete records of any medical procedures you have undertaken.When your MRI scan shows a low risk of cancer and we recommend PSA surveillance or a visit to your GP, the onus is on you to follow up the treatment recommendation. If your results show a risk of cancer, we communicate directly with your GP by email, asking them to contact you. You also receive a copy of this letter. Your GP will be in touch if your results show a risk of prostate cancer or you may contact your GP immediately when you receive your results. In these circumstances, our Care Coordinator Team will call you and follow up with your GP to ensure you have both received your results and understand that further treatment is important. Once this is confirmed, you and your GP will be responsible for your onward treatment.

While prostate cancers are often seen as slow-developing tumours, speed is still important when it comes to diagnosis. You will receive your results within 48 hours of your scan. We will share all results with your GP or with your consultant, if you have a consultant referral. We communicate directly with your GP or consultant providing your report and access to your scan images.

A multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) scan of the prostate can take about 60 – 90 minutes and the appointment should last around an hour. A biparametric MRI (bpMRI) scan can take around 60 minutes.

A biparametric MRI scan is offered to men displaying no symptoms and with a PSA Level in the normal range. If you have a raised PSA level or a GP/Consultant referral, we will recommend you have a multiparametric MRI scan. Depending on your medical background, individual requirements and/or symptoms, our Care-Coordinators will liaise with our clinical team of urology and prostate experts to determine whether you have a biparametric or multiparametric MRI scan.

Multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) is a comprehensive MRI scan of the prostate gland and pelvis which is commonly used to investigate men with a raised PSA. It involves an injection of contrast (see below) and typically takes around an hour to perform.Biparametric MRI (bpMRI) is a shorter MRI scan which recent research suggests can be used to detect prostate cancers in men with normal PSA. It does not require contrast injection and typically takes around 30 minutes to perform.

A consultant urologist will review your symptoms and test results to determine what risk group you are of prostate cancer. Your risk group is a way to categorise the severity of your case and will help inform what treatment options you are offered.There are 3 general risk groups based on the PSA level, Digital Rectal Examination, MRI results and biopsy, and these will determine what treatment your doctor recommends:

1. Low risk: Tumour is confined to the prostate, and the PSA is <10 and grade group 1 (Gleason 6). Your doctor may recommend active surveillance or watchful waiting.
2. Intermediate risk: Tumour is confined to the prostate, the PSA is between 10 and 20, or grade group 2 or 3 (Gleason 7). Your doctor may recommend active surveillance or watchful waiting, and only start treatment if the cancer starts to grow.
3. High risk: Tumour extends outside the prostate, the PSA >20, or grade group 4 or 5 (Gleason 8 to 10). Your doctor will recommend treatment which might include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, HIFU or hormone therapy.

The PSA test is a blood test that measures the amount of a protein called prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. A PSA test can help diagnose prostate problems including prostate cancer.If you are over 50, PSA tests are available free on the NHS via your GP surgery.Your GP may recommend you have a PSA test if you are at increased risk of getting prostate cancer, or if you have symptoms such as problems urinating.PSA tests may be offered as part of a men’s health screening programme and can also be booked privately.If your results are normal but you would like a more in depth health check or your results are raised and you’d like the reassurance of an MRI scan, you can book a self-pay, private MRI Prostate Health Check at Prime Health. Please note you will require a copy of your PSA results to upload with your referral request.

You may have had a recent proven infection where the PSA needs repeating in 6 weeks, or a clinical diagnosis of prostate cancer where surgery and radiotherapy are not appropriate due to your ill health or inability to undergo treatment e.g. you may have life limiting diseases or conditions.

There is currently no national screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK. However, if you are aged 50 or over and would like to have your PSA levels tested you can arrange for it to be carried out by your GP or online for a fee. If results show you have a raised level of PSA, your GP may suggest further tests including an MRI scan or a biopsy.

Research from a study at University College London called Re-Imagine has shown that MRI can detect prostate cancers in men with a normal PSA, which would otherwise not be diagnosed.The study found that a Prostate MRI offers the opportunity to identify significant prostate cancer in men whose PSA is normal for their age. Data from the study group showed that a high-quality biparametric MRI scan picked up significant cancer in 1 in 6 men. Some of these men had a PSA of less than 3ng/ml and would not have been eligible for further investigations under current NHS guidelines.

Yes, PSA levels can be high without it being prostate cancer. The following factors may affect your PSA level:

• Your age
• An infection in the prostate, such as a urinary infection or prostatitis
• An enlarged prostate, sometimes called Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH)
• A recent prostate biopsy
• Prostate stimulation including ejaculation
• Vigorous exercise (such as cycling) in the days prior to testing

At Prime Health we offer MRI Prostate Health Checks for men wishing to take control of their prostate health.For men over the age of 50 years, with a normal PSA score:If you want a safe, swift, and accurate health check of your prostate, with no need for a GP referral, this is the service for you.If you have a normal PSA, this short MRI scan can detect any abnormalities or issues that need further investigation.For men with a raised PSA score or a GP/consultant referral letter:If you have a raised PSA level or already have a GP or consultant referral letter but are faced with a waiting list, we offer rapid access to a state-of-the-art MRI scan for a fast and accurate diagnosis.For more information about Prostate Cancer, visit the Prostate Cancer UK website.