A routine baseline MRI after my radical prostatectomy was supposed to be just that — a baseline.

Instead, it found a new spot on my bladder.

That unexpected finding led to another cystoscopy, another surgery under full anesthesia, a bladder biopsy, days of waiting for pathology, and a delay in starting my planned 39 radiation treatments.

And then we got the answer.

The spot was not bladder cancer.

Pathology showed prostate cancer in the bladder tissue.

In this episode of Jonesing For The Journey, I walk through what happened from that first MRI in July through surgery on September 14th, what we know — and don’t know — about how the prostate cancer ended up there, and how the finding affected the next phase of my Stage 4A prostate cancer treatment.

One of the biggest lessons from this detour reinforced something I have said throughout my journey:

Never make an important decision on a single piece of information.

The MRI told us something was there.

The cystoscopy confirmed the spot.

Surgery removed it.

Pathology finally told us what it actually was.

Cancer has a way of moving the finish line just when you think you know what comes next. Sometimes the route changes.

You adjust.

And you keep moving forward.

If you or someone you love is navigating prostate cancer, surgery, radiation, recurrence, biopsies, scans, or simply the uncertainty that comes between appointments, I hope sharing my experience helps you ask better questions about your own care.

In this episode

00:00 — The Scan That Changed Everything
00:48 — The Baseline MRI
01:34 — A New Spot Appears
03:07 — The Second Cystoscopy
03:47 — Back in Surgery
04:18 — Waiting for Pathology
04:51 — The Answer
06:02 — Radiation on Hold
06:56 — Why One Test Isn't Enough
08:02 — Moving the Finish Line
08:55 — Where We Are Now

📘 FREE GUIDE — Ask One More Question
Visit JonesingForTheJourney.com

✍️ Mile Markers Journal
Follow the journey, treatment updates, recovery experiences, and lessons learned at:
https://jonesingforthejourney.com/

🗺️ The Resource Map for the Journey
Reputable prostate cancer, patient, caregiver, and advocacy resources gathered in one place:
https://jonesingforthejourney.com/journal/the-resource-map-for-the-journey/

🤝 ZERO Prostate Cancer
We are proud to support ZERO Prostate Cancer and its work for patients and families.

🛒 Our Amazon Storefront
Products Sue and I have actually found useful through surgery, recovery, appointments, travel, and everyday life during treatment:
https://www.amazon.com/shop/jftjjourney

As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

I’m not a doctor, and Jonesing For The Journey is not medical advice. I’m sharing my personal experience as a Stage 4A prostate cancer patient. Every diagnosis and treatment plan is different. Please discuss your individual diagnosis, test results, treatment options, and medical decisions with your own healthcare team.

My name is Mike Jones.

This is Jonesing For The Journey.

And so…the adventure continues.

#ProstateCancer #Stage4ProstateCancer #Prostatectomy #Cystoscopy #RadiationTherapy #CancerJourney #PatientAdvocacy