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Posted 6/26/2008 1:12 PM (GMT 0)
I am due to have a prostate biopsy tomorrow and I am not sure I want to go thru with it.

I am just now 70 years old and this invasive biopsy really concerns me.

3 years ago I had my first psa and it was 4.8 and my doctor had me go to a uraligist.He did the dre and it was found to be normal and I was put on antibiotics for 2 weeks.After the antibotics my psa came back at 3.6.

In December 2006 I had another psa and it was 3.6.

In Jan. of this year I had another psa and it was 4.3.I waited three months and had another and it was 4.6.The doctor said I should have the biopsy without the dre and without another psa test.This concerns me.It seems he would do the dre and see what comes from that.

Even at this moment I am still undecide as what I will do.

Thanks

Posted 6/26/2008 2:06 PM (GMT 0)

aceguy

A DRE is only a part of the diagnosis process.  Even a biopsy sometimes I think, misses the cancer.  A biopsy, at least my last one nothing to it.  Doctor used pain meds and I had knew he was back there. 

Good luck

Richard yeah tongue yeah

Posted 6/26/2008 2:07 PM (GMT 0)

Each man must decide what he is comfortable with, but do not let the biopsy scare you.

It is similar in one way to penile injections.....the thought of it is MUCH worse than the actual event.  I can honestly say I have more discomfort when I have my teeth cleaned than I had with my biopsy.

A negative DRE means very little.  I had a negative DRE (nothing felt) but had an aggressive cancer.

Good luck with your decision.

DanMan Bob

Posted 6/26/2008 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
As DanmanBob said, a negative DRE is not conclusive. I had a GP do a DRE (felt nothing), followed by a urologist (felt nothing) and when I went to a second urologist he said he thought he could feel something. Of course urologist's #2 opinion was given with the benefit of the biopsy results conducted by urologist #1 which had revealed the presence of a tumour. Unfortunately, I am cynical enough now about the medical profession to believe that this may have been to impress me with his special prowess. The tumour was located on both lobes but to the front of the prostate where it could not be felt. Having said that, doctors would be suspicious and want to investigate a PSA above 4. Reserch everything you can before making a decision but do not allow apprehension about the biopsy procedure cloud your judgement. Light sedation and a little pain killer means you will feel very little.
Bill
Posted 6/26/2008 4:13 PM (GMT 0)

aceguy,

I guess your decision on getting the biopsy depends on whether you care to find out if you might have PCa.

Since you've been getting your PSA and DRE's done, I would have to assume that you do care to find out. I won't lie to you and tell you that it is 100% pain-free, there is a bit of discomfort.

In my opinion, it's best to go ahead to find out what's really going on with your prostate.

I hope you make the right decision.

Posted 6/26/2008 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to everyone for responding.

My problem is not the biopsy as much as the fact that I might be getting one when it is not neccesary at this time.

Everything that I have read suggest the biopsy is the last thing you have after having the PSA the DRE and the regiment of antibiotics(500mlg of citro) and another PSA test.This procedure was done three years ago but for whatever reason is not being done at this time.

After saying all this I took the first of three levaquin pills that help to prevent infection.So I suppose reluctantly that I have decided to go ahead with the biopsy but then again I still have about 24 hrs before I am due at the doctors office.

Posted 6/26/2008 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
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Posted 6/26/2008 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi aceguy,
I wouldn't worry about the biopsy too much. but I would recommend it. Even if you choose to wait before doing anything, you are better prepared by being proactive about it. It just might be a non-issue, but it's a gamble to wait. Of course I Hope you are not a club member, but if you are, you are very welcome here and this wonderful site is full of great people to draw from. Good Luck and again, I recommend that you do get the biopsy. It's not the funnest thing you will do in life, but if you have family close by you, you can look into their eyes and know what you should do.

Tony
Posted 6/26/2008 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
aceguy, by almost any standard, there's enough evidence to justify having a biopsy now.  It is the logical next step in the  ladder.  If you don't worry about the procedure but only about the timing, then I'd suggest it is time for it.   Welcome to HW, by the way.  Hope you come back and share the result of your decision, whatever it is...ok?

Posted 6/26/2008 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Aceguy

Life is full of things we don't have to do, but there are some things we have to do. I have never had a positive DRE but the biopsy was positive. My uncle (mid 70's) just had a biopsy and it was positive. The biposy is just one of life's bad moments.

Mika
Posted 6/27/2008 12:19 AM (GMT 0)

Hello aceguy...I'll be 68 in August.  Understand your concerns.  I had biopsy in July '06 - PSA 5; Biopsy in March '07 - PSA 6.6, both negative.  Biopsy in June '08 - PSA 8.  THE BIG C...For me, big baby that I am, it did not hurt other than maybe like a mosquito sting.  At our age old buddy, get the biopsy and find out "aye or nay"...if negative, go fishing; if positive, start fighting...

For all of you that responded to me earlier in June when I couldn't see straight after being diagnosed; after so much reading; on the intermet; on the telephone with friends and loved ones; I came to the decision for da Vinci robotic in Phoenix August 7.

Mr. Aceguy...you and I have a wealth of information, support and knowlege on this forum...Go do it tomorrow and let's get about our daily lives...and have a peace of mind one way or the other...

durantlion

Posted 6/27/2008 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
durantlion,

Good luck with your surgery.

DanMan

Posted 6/27/2008 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
please do the biopsy, it just might be the most important procedure of your life.

peace to you my friend
Dale
Posted 6/27/2008 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Aceguy

I'm 70 and apparently just a few steps ahead of you in this drama. Puzzling, I would think your urologist would want to know what a recent DRE result would be after 3 years. I suggest you request it, perhaps he can do it before the biopsy. My inner cynic suggests that my biopsy costs over $3000 where a DRE would not be more than a few hundred I'd guess. But you do need that information to make a treatment decision, even if you were to continue with watchful waiting I'd think. More knowledge is better.

Most importantly to me is to know that I am (hopefully) T2a, Gleason 3+4=7, which suggests that the cancer is contained, and that gives me better treatment options. For example, contained disease can be treated non-invasively with Proton Beam radiation which reports a minimum of side effects such as incontinence and impotence, with about the same survival stats. At our age, quality of life is pretty important I think. A great book to read is Bob Markini's, who is a graduate of the Linda Loma Proton Beam program. This is a relatively new treatment that my urologist told me today he had no idea what it was all about, and sent me to another doctor.

http://www.protonbob.com/proton-treatment-homepage.asp

You may have time if your PSA is correct, and not rising rapidly. You can see by my stats that mine started to gallop and I'm up too high really, I should have moved into action a year ago.

Good luck to you

charley/70/east tenn
Posted 6/27/2008 3:36 AM (GMT 0)

Hey aceguy,

We're so sorry for the reason you're here, but you came to the right place!  A warm welcome to you!

This is a great place to ask questions and to get support.

Your numbers indicate to me very good reasons to get a biopsy with your PSA rising.  My PSA was 4.3 and I caught PCa early.

Look at it this way.  If your results come out negative, you've gone through a little discomfort.

** but, remember the prostate biopsy is never a test done "for nothing" **

You and I really need to know if we have cancer or not.  There are many on this forum who wish they had caught the disease earlier.  If you do find that you have cancer, then you can take charge and find a way to get rid of it.

No one can force you to do anything, but those on this forum will support you in any decision you make to help ensure or re-gain your good health.

Posted 6/27/2008 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
Things to think on. I am 68. I did not have any systems. No going to the bathroom at night, no trouble in voiding urine, no pain. Only a high PSA score. Biopsies were done and the answer was cancer. Luckily I went ahead with them, and the cancer was still encapsulated by less than 1 MM or 37 thousand of an inch. That's less than the thi9ckness of 13 sheets of paper. I was lucky. Tomorrow I will be going for my 10 month check up. The previous three have all been zeros. My biopsies were at 10AM and by 2PM I had more or less forgot about it. I never ebven had the pain prescription filled. My advise go for it. Uncle Dan
Posted 6/27/2008 11:21 AM (GMT 0)
Don't waste time. Do it. I am 73, G P discouraged a biopsy because he coun't feel anything. Urologist couldn't feel anything. Biopsy showed a tumor. pre-op 3+3. post-op 3+4. My PSA was 4.5. 

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