Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: Why MRI and PSMA PET Are Better with Dr. Mark Emberton
Mon Feb 02 2026
Is the biopsy needle more dangerous than the cancer itself? In this episode, Dr. Geo sits down with Dr. Mark Emberton, Dean of Medical Sciences at UCL and a global leader in urologic oncology. We dive deep into the "See and Treat" revolution—a massive shift in prostate cancer care that moves away from "blind" invasive biopsies toward precision imaging like MRI and PSMA PET scans.
Dr. Emberton explains why many prostate cancers found through traditional methods are "biological non-events" that never needed treatment, and how younger men (ages 40-50) can better navigate their diagnosis. We also discuss the future of focal therapy, the role of AI in radiology, and the groundbreaking "Transform" study that aims to change prostate screening forever.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:
✅ Why a normal MRI (PI-RADS 1-2) might mean you can skip the biopsy entirely.
✅ The difference between "visible" tumors on imaging vs. microscopic disease.
✅ How PSA density acts as the crucial "tie-breaker" for indeterminate results.
✅ The future of "See and Treat": Targeting lesions while avoiding surgery side effects.
✅ Why tumor location (Anterior vs. Posterior) changes your treatment options.
✅ How AI and new magnets are making MRI screening cheaper and faster.
🕒 EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 – The dangers of the biopsy needle
02:45 – Innovation in urologic oncology
06:45 – Rising cancer rates in younger men
10:15 – How MRI prevents unnecessary biopsies
12:30 – The PI-RADS "Traffic Light" system
13:45 – PSA Density: The diagnostic tie-breaker
16:30 – Diagnosing without a biopsy
21:00 – AI's role in faster, cheaper MRIs
26:45 – Visible vs. Invisible Cancer: What matters?
35:30 – The "Transform" Study & global screening
42:45 – PSMA PET Scans: Pre-biopsy utility
48:00 – Focal Therapy: Saving the "clockwork"
56:45 – Why tumor location (Anterior) matters
58:30 – Lifestyle and the "Teachable Moment"
01:03:30 – Final advice for patients and policy
Connect with Dr. Mark Emberton: UCL Profile: https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/mark-emberton
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🌱 Partner Offers
ProLon 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet — Enjoy fasting benefits with food. Supports cellular renewal, metabolic health, and fat loss. Special offer for our listeners: Get the ProLon kit for $148 → https://bit.ly/3TVehAx
AG1 by Athletic Greens — 75 high-quality vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and adaptogens in one daily scoop. Supports gut health, immunity, energy, and focus. Try it here → https://bit.ly/3mA2tVV
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💪 Exclusive Membership
Want deeper insights? Join The Dr. Geo Prostate Podcast Exclusive Membership for curated transcripts, detailed show notes, expert resources, and member perks. → https://drgeo.com/membership
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📌 Follow and Connect
📺 YouTube → Dr. Geo Prostate Podcast — https://www.youtube.com/@DrGeoProstatePodcast
🎧 All Episodes → Captivate.fm Archive — https://dr-geo-prostate-podcast.captivate.fm
📸 Instagram → https://bit.ly/DRGEO-INSTA-YT
📘 Facebook → https://bit.ly/POD-FB-DrGeo
💼 LinkedIn → https://bit.ly/DRGEO-LINKEDIN-YT
🛒 Supplements → XY Wellness https://bit.ly/3uJPC7Z | Mr. Happy https://bit.ly/3TE7tWE
🌐 DrGeo.com Website → https://bit.ly/43khht0
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📣 Hashtags
#DrGeoProstatePodcast #ProstateHealth #ProstateCancer #MensHealth #IntegrativeUrology #Urology
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⚠️ Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and not medical advice. The views expressed are Dr. Geo’s and not those of his employer(s) or affiliated organizations. Use of this content is at your own risk. Geovanni Espinosa, N.D., assumes no liability for direct...
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Is the biopsy needle more dangerous than the cancer itself? In this episode, Dr. Geo sits down with Dr. Mark Emberton, Dean of Medical Sciences at UCL and a global leader in urologic oncology. We dive deep into the "See and Treat" revolution—a massive shift in prostate cancer care that moves away from "blind" invasive biopsies toward precision imaging like MRI and PSMA PET scans. Dr. Emberton explains why many prostate cancers found through traditional methods are "biological non-events" that never needed treatment, and how younger men (ages 40-50) can better navigate their diagnosis. We also discuss the future of focal therapy, the role of AI in radiology, and the groundbreaking "Transform" study that aims to change prostate screening forever. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: ✅ Why a normal MRI (PI-RADS 1-2) might mean you can skip the biopsy entirely. ✅ The difference between "visible" tumors on imaging vs. microscopic disease. ✅ How PSA density acts as the crucial "tie-breaker" for indeterminate results. ✅ The future of "See and Treat": Targeting lesions while avoiding surgery side effects. ✅ Why tumor location (Anterior vs. Posterior) changes your treatment options. ✅ How AI and new magnets are making MRI screening cheaper and faster. 🕒 EPISODE TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – The dangers of the biopsy needle 02:45 – Innovation in urologic oncology 06:45 – Rising cancer rates in younger men 10:15 – How MRI prevents unnecessary biopsies 12:30 – The PI-RADS "Traffic Light" system 13:45 – PSA Density: The diagnostic tie-breaker 16:30 – Diagnosing without a biopsy 21:00 – AI's role in faster, cheaper MRIs 26:45 – Visible vs. Invisible Cancer: What matters? 35:30 – The "Transform" Study & global screening 42:45 – PSMA PET Scans: Pre-biopsy utility 48:00 – Focal Therapy: Saving the "clockwork" 56:45 – Why tumor location (Anterior) matters 58:30 – Lifestyle and the "Teachable Moment" 01:03:30 – Final advice for patients and policy Connect with Dr. Mark Emberton: UCL Profile: https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/mark-emberton ___________________________________ 🌱 Partner Offers ProLon 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet — Enjoy fasting benefits with food. Supports cellular renewal, metabolic health, and fat loss. Special offer for our listeners: Get the ProLon kit for $148 → https://bit.ly/3TVehAx AG1 by Athletic Greens — 75 high-quality vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and adaptogens in one daily scoop. Supports gut health, immunity, energy, and focus. Try it here → https://bit.ly/3mA2tVV ___________________________________ 💪 Exclusive Membership Want deeper insights? Join The Dr. Geo Prostate Podcast Exclusive Membership for curated transcripts, detailed show notes, expert resources, and member perks. → https://drgeo.com/membership ___________________________________ 📌 Follow and Connect 📺 YouTube → Dr. Geo Prostate Podcast — https://www.youtube.com/@DrGeoProstatePodcast 🎧 All Episodes → Captivate.fm Archive — https://dr-geo-prostate-podcast.captivate.fm 📸 Instagram → https://bit.ly/DRGEO-INSTA-YT 📘 Facebook → https://bit.ly/POD-FB-DrGeo 💼 LinkedIn → https://bit.ly/DRGEO-LINKEDIN-YT 🛒 Supplements → XY Wellness https://bit.ly/3uJPC7Z | Mr. Happy https://bit.ly/3TE7tWE 🌐 DrGeo.com Website → https://bit.ly/43khht0 ___________________________________ 📣 Hashtags #DrGeoProstatePodcast #ProstateHealth #ProstateCancer #MensHealth #IntegrativeUrology #Urology ___________________________________ ⚠️ Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and not medical advice. The views expressed are Dr. Geo’s and not those of his employer(s) or affiliated organizations. Use of this content is at your own risk. Geovanni Espinosa, N.D., assumes no liability for direct...