Guest guest Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 My doctor asked me to make an appointment for one month out too. It was for an ultrasound. During the procedure he found something that brought piqued his concern. He offered to do the biopsy procedure while he was set up and I was there. I believe he used the ultrasound machine to help guide his aiming during the biopsy procedure. They used lydocain gel or something similar for deadening. I recall no physical pain, only concern. In retrospect, I am glad I had the procedure. The results found 1 in 4 of the biopsy samples to be positive for Adenocarcinoma. The time period for all of the above procedure was late March 2006. The results were back by April; I had surgery to remove it in May. I spent the better part of the interm two months reading, learning various exercises and developing a personal support group. Best of luck, Mick -- Abilene, TX > > I saw my urologist today. I had a 1.5 PSA rise over a 1 yr period, > with a 15% free PSA. The urologist says this is a no brainer, no more > test, do a biopsy. You have 25% chance of cancer. If we don't find > it now we will later. After biopsy if we don't find cancer we will > check for BPH. I'd like to hear opinions if you have to comment. My > PSA came in this month between 3.6 and 4, within two weeks of each other. > > If he is so concerned for cancer why schedule me for a biopsy in a > month and wait. Also if you had the biopsy, I'd like to know how > irritating the procedure can be. They said the procedure is an plain > office visit. > > Thanks for you help > Tony > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 Last May, my PSA was rising so i went to a urologist. He did the digital exam and said for safety sake, let's take an ultrasound. Once in there, or up there (pardon the pun), he said it would be best to take some samples and 'snipped' 12 core samples. The result was 1 came back with cancer. At that time, my psa was 3.7 He started me on avodart and i went back for a psa test in september and it was 2.1. I have decided to continue and will be going back on jan 5 for an updated psa. Basically, I am 'watchful waiting/acitve surveillance' and will report back after 1/5. Dan I am suprised how many people have surgery so quickly but as everyone mentions, you have to do what you feel is the best course of action. I have read that many dr's and people in the know say that the 'treatment' is worse than the disease. We will see! -- In ProstateCancerSupport , " dolphin_79605 " wrote: > > My doctor asked me to make an appointment for one month out too. It > was for an ultrasound. During the procedure he found something that > brought piqued his concern. He offered to do the biopsy procedure > while he was set up and I was there. > > I believe he used the ultrasound machine to help guide his aiming > during the biopsy procedure. They used lydocain gel or something > similar for deadening. I recall no physical pain, only concern. > > In retrospect, I am glad I had the procedure. The results found 1 > in 4 of the biopsy samples to be positive for Adenocarcinoma. The > time period for all of the above procedure was late March 2006. The > results were back by April; I had surgery to remove it in May. > > I spent the better part of the interm two months reading, learning > various exercises and developing a personal support group. > > Best of luck, Mick -- Abilene, TX > > > > > > > I saw my urologist today. I had a 1.5 PSA rise over a 1 yr period, > > with a 15% free PSA. The urologist says this is a no brainer, no > more > > test, do a biopsy. You have 25% chance of cancer. If we don't > find > > it now we will later. After biopsy if we don't find cancer we will > > check for BPH. I'd like to hear opinions if you have to comment. > My > > PSA came in this month between 3.6 and 4, within two weeks of each > other. > > > > If he is so concerned for cancer why schedule me for a biopsy in a > > month and wait. Also if you had the biopsy, I'd like to know how > > irritating the procedure can be. They said the procedure is an > plain > > office visit. > > > > Thanks for you help > > Tony > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 Last May, my PSA was rising so i went to a urologist. He did the digital exam and said for safety sake, let's take an ultrasound. Once in there, or up there (pardon the pun), he said it would be best to take some samples and 'snipped' 12 core samples. The result was 1 came back with cancer. At that time, my psa was 3.7 He started me on avodart and i went back for a psa test in september and it was 2.1. I have decided to continue and will be going back on jan 5 for an updated psa. Basically, I am 'watchful waiting/acitve surveillance' and will report back after 1/5. Dan I am suprised how many people have surgery so quickly but as everyone mentions, you have to do what you feel is the best course of action. I have read that many dr's and people in the know say that the 'treatment' is worse than the disease. We will see! -- In ProstateCancerSupport , " dolphin_79605 " wrote: > > My doctor asked me to make an appointment for one month out too. It > was for an ultrasound. During the procedure he found something that > brought piqued his concern. He offered to do the biopsy procedure > while he was set up and I was there. > > I believe he used the ultrasound machine to help guide his aiming > during the biopsy procedure. They used lydocain gel or something > similar for deadening. I recall no physical pain, only concern. > > In retrospect, I am glad I had the procedure. The results found 1 > in 4 of the biopsy samples to be positive for Adenocarcinoma. The > time period for all of the above procedure was late March 2006. The > results were back by April; I had surgery to remove it in May. > > I spent the better part of the interm two months reading, learning > various exercises and developing a personal support group. > > Best of luck, Mick -- Abilene, TX > > > > > > > I saw my urologist today. I had a 1.5 PSA rise over a 1 yr period, > > with a 15% free PSA. The urologist says this is a no brainer, no > more > > test, do a biopsy. You have 25% chance of cancer. If we don't > find > > it now we will later. After biopsy if we don't find cancer we will > > check for BPH. I'd like to hear opinions if you have to comment. > My > > PSA came in this month between 3.6 and 4, within two weeks of each > other. > > > > If he is so concerned for cancer why schedule me for a biopsy in a > > month and wait. Also if you had the biopsy, I'd like to know how > > irritating the procedure can be. They said the procedure is an > plain > > office visit. > > > > Thanks for you help > > Tony > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 On December 18, Alan Meyer replied to Dan, in pertinent part: > I'm curious to know why the doctor prescribed Avodart. If he's > prescribing Avodart for its principal use, relieving urinary problems > caused by an enlarged prostate, then I understand. If he's doing it > for the cancer, I'm curious as to why. The FDA-approved use of Avodart (dutasteride) is indeed tx of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Same for Proscar (finasteride). They are 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. 5-AR inhibitors block conversion of testosterone (T) to the more-powerful dihydrotestosterone (DHT). They do not affect production of T by testes nor the adrenal T precursors DHEA and androstenedione that are metabolized in the prostate to T. (snip) > Reducing PSA could mask further progression. Some say that you should > double your PSA numbers when using Avodart in order to see what the > untreated number would be. Let's be clear. That doubling applies ONLY when the drug is used for BPH. After the patient has undergone tx for PCa, the PSA is what it is. Why? Well, AIUI, primary tx will destroy or remove the gland, so there is no BPH to tx. This is vastly oversimplified but nevertheless all that I have studied supports it. > Avodart might suppress some of the hormone sensitive cancer > cells..... With respect, I must point out that 5-AR inhibitors have no effect upon PCa cells, hormone sensitive or otherwise. They only block conversion of T to DHT. Having said that, I'll say this: I cannot understand why the " doctor " prescribed Avodart but no other tx such as Lupron, Trelstar or Zoladex, or Casodex. (snip) > If you haven't done it yet, I suggest that you get the biopsy Gleason > score from the doc. Agreed. Along with a copy of the path report and every other scrap of paper on this subject. The patient has a legal right to such information (at least in the USA), and it is at minimum prudent to get and preserve copies of everything. > You might also ask him what he thinks about whether it's desirable to > get a second opinion on the biopsy slides (which only requires > sending the slides to another lab, not getting another biopsy). Here's an extract from my boiler-plate welcome to new folks: Everything that is done from here on depends upon the accuracy of the Gleason scoring. Here is a list of such labs: Bostwick Laboratories [800] 214-6628 Dianon Laboratories [800]328-2666 (select 5 for client services) Jon Epstein (s Hopkins)[410] 955-5043 or [410] 955-2162 Grignon (Michigan) [313]745-2520 Jon Oppenheimer (Tennessee) [888] 868-7522 UroCor, Inc. [800] 411-1839 This is a " second opinion " and should be covered by insurance/Medicare. The cost, last I heard, was about $350. More if further tests, which might be prudent, are ordered. The chosen lab can give instructions on shipment arrangements. In civilized jurisdictions, those specimens are the property of the patient and not the medic, not the lab. Sometimes it is necessary to educate them on that point. Here is a couple of sources of reliable information: The Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI): http://prostate-cancer.org/index.html and _A Primer on Prostate Cancer_ 2nd ed., subtitled " The Empowered Patient's Guide " by medical oncologist and PCa specialist B. Strum, MD and PCa warrior Donna Pogliano. It is available from the PCRI website and the like, as well as Amazon (30+ five-star reviews), & Noble, and bookstores. A lifesaver, as I very well know. Regards, Steve J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 I like that, Dave, and agree with you about the humour. Hope you agree to my putting it on the site at http://www.yananow.net/troopc.htm#snippets All the best Terry Herbert I have no medical qualifications but I was diagnosed in ‘96: and have learned a bit since then. My sites are at www.yananow.net and www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za Dr “Snuffy” Myers : " As a physician, I am painfully aware that most of the decisions we make with regard to prostate cancer are made with inadequate data " From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of Dave Machado Sent: Saturday, 20 December 2008 12:48 AM To: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: Re: Opinions on biopsy For me, it is important to try to maintain my sense of humor through these trying times. So, with that in mind: " The biopsy was liking having a 21 gun salute shot up your ass. " Dave > > I saw my urologist today. I had a 1.5 PSA rise over a 1 yr period, > with a 15% free PSA. The urologist says this is a no brainer, no more > test, do a biopsy. You have 25% chance of cancer. If we don't find > it now we will later. After biopsy if we don't find cancer we will > check for BPH. I'd like to hear opinions if you have to comment. My > PSA came in this month between 3.6 and 4, within two weeks of each other. > > If he is so concerned for cancer why schedule me for a biopsy in a > month and wait. Also if you had the biopsy, I'd like to know how > irritating the procedure can be. They said the procedure is an plain > office visit. > > Thanks for you help > Tony > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 The test is recognised in the UK. But the NHS won't pay for it. My consultant told me about it. As I say, I've already had a negative biopsy of 8 samples, and the consultant wanted another taking 24! So I opted for the PCA3 instead. There's a case of someone who had 5 negative biopsies, and still had PC. Ted > > > > > > > > > > > > I saw my urologist today. I had a 1.5 PSA rise over a 1 yr > > > period, > > > > > > with a 15% free PSA. The urologist says this is a no brainer, > > > no > > > > > more > > > > > > test, do a biopsy. You have 25% chance of cancer. If we > > > don't > > > > > find > > > > > > it now we will later. After biopsy if we don't find cancer we > > > will > > > > > > check for BPH. I'd like to hear opinions if you have to > > > comment. > > > > > My > > > > > > PSA came in this month between 3.6 and 4, within two weeks of > > > each > > > > > other. > > > > > > > > > > > > If he is so concerned for cancer why schedule me for a biopsy > > > in a > > > > > > month and wait. Also if you had the biopsy, I'd like to know > > > how > > > > > > irritating the procedure can be. They said the procedure is > > > an > > > > > plain > > > > > > office visit. > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks for you help > > > > > > Tony > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 The test is recognised in the UK. But the NHS won't pay for it. My consultant told me about it. As I say, I've already had a negative biopsy of 8 samples, and the consultant wanted another taking 24! So I opted for the PCA3 instead. There's a case of someone who had 5 negative biopsies, and still had PC. Ted > > > > > > > > > > > > I saw my urologist today. I had a 1.5 PSA rise over a 1 yr > > > period, > > > > > > with a 15% free PSA. The urologist says this is a no brainer, > > > no > > > > > more > > > > > > test, do a biopsy. You have 25% chance of cancer. If we > > > don't > > > > > find > > > > > > it now we will later. After biopsy if we don't find cancer we > > > will > > > > > > check for BPH. I'd like to hear opinions if you have to > > > comment. > > > > > My > > > > > > PSA came in this month between 3.6 and 4, within two weeks of > > > each > > > > > other. > > > > > > > > > > > > If he is so concerned for cancer why schedule me for a biopsy > > > in a > > > > > > month and wait. Also if you had the biopsy, I'd like to know > > > how > > > > > > irritating the procedure can be. They said the procedure is > > > an > > > > > plain > > > > > > office visit. > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks for you help > > > > > > Tony > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.