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Time from biopsy to surgery

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Posted 1/3/2010 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
This is discussed as part of a different thread, but it's an interesting topic and I thought deserving of a seperate thread.

My biopsy was 11/30. My surgery is scheduled for 1/25 (actually they wanted to do it on 1/18 but I delayed it a week due to a back injury). That's exactly to the day 8 weeks.

I thought that was about average, but I read elsewhere that this is quick. So, I'd like to compare. Please respond with your experience and we can see what is generally done.

Mel

 

Posted 1/3/2010 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Mine was about 6 weeks. I have read the length of time should be 8 weeks. It gives the prostate time to heal from the biopsy.
Posted 1/3/2010 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
My Biopsy was July 11, 2008 and my surgery was 8/1/08. My doctor originally said that he likes to wait 6 to 8 weeks after the biopsy to let the prostate heal. Additionally, his schedule is booked 10 + weeks out on average. As we were talking about a surgery date he discovered he had an open date due to a cancellation. I asked about the short time since the biopsy but he said it would be okay. I took the August 1 date and things turned out great for me.
Posted 1/3/2010 7:20 PM (GMT 0)

Compiler

I would say that you made a very quick decision.  Considering one generally waits 6 weeks past biopsy, you have waited only two extra weeks.

Because AS was suggested as a possibility for me, even though I decided to go with open RP, I took a month to make a surgery appointment and when I called the date they gave me for my surgeon who is very busy was four months down the road.  I wasn't concerned  because I felt that the slow growing cancer I have (had hopefully!!) was in me for years.

Good luck with your surgery!!

Skeener

Posted 1/3/2010 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
My surgeon wanted a full 8 weeks min between my 3rd and last biopsy and my open surgery. In the end, it was 9 weeks because of a conflict in schedule at the hospital I used. I was comfortable with the time gap.

David in SC
Posted 1/3/2010 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Mel,

It would seem like the general rule of thumb is about 6-8 weeks as a minimum.

My local uro that did the diagnosis was ready to move forward almost right away. The discussion with Arletta at Vattikuti on my first call questioned his urgency and it was she that told me Dr. Menon waited at least 6-8 weeks following biopsy to allow the prostate to heal.

Sonny
Posted 1/3/2010 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Eight weeks on the nose for me.  Best wishes.

NewsPaper Lover

 

Age 66

PSA:  6.0  on 07/31/09 having risen from 4.2 on 12/02/08.  Free PSA 23.5%.Other PSA History: 4.3 on 05/01/08; 3.3 on 11/15/07; 3.1 on 05/20/07; 4.0 on 11/30/06; 3.40 on 09/01/05.

 

Biopsy:  09/04/09  13 snips;  two positive.  Right Mid  4+3 = 7 and 15% of the total volume.   Right Lateral Mid 4+3 = 7 and 20% of the total volume.

 

DaVinci robotic surgery:  11/04/09.  Post surgery pathology:  margins clean, no invasion of seminal vessels, no upgrade of the Gleason scores, no evidence of cancer outside the prostate capsule.  No incontinence.  Used pads two days, then stopped.

 

 

 

Posted 1/3/2010 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
Just thought of this, it's kind of like healing up a condemmed person so that you can execute them. But hey, no mercy was shown to my prostate when it was him time to bite the bullet. lol. Just a bit of perverse humor.

David in SC
Posted 1/3/2010 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
I was told the waiting period is 6 weeks minimum but they did me in 41 days. My PSA was rising very quickly.
Had I known I'd end up with ED and incontinece I might have waited another week or two so I could really wring out the 'ole prostate.
Jeff
Posted 1/3/2010 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
David,

It is also like the guy that asked if "they rub your arm with a alcohol swab before they stick you with the needle for death by lethal injection".

I can hear the mad-cap dr now. Let the little sucker heal and when he least expects it, we'll rip the thing out of it's home.

Sonny
Posted 1/4/2010 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
John's biopsy was February 3; his surgery was March 18. Within two weeks of the biopsy, he had a CT scan and a consultation with the uro/surgeon to discuss the biopsy results and talk about treatment options. about 10 days before the operation, he had to have a physical with his regular doctor - the hospital gave him a sheet with the tests that were needed, his doctor did them, and faxed the results to the hospital. Everything was in order when we showed up at noon on March 18.
Posted 1/4/2010 1:44 AM (GMT 0)

It sounds like my 8 week time interval is about average

Mel

Posted 1/4/2010 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
 

 ..I was just a few days short of three months.

Posted 1/4/2010 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Great Topic! I realize that prostate cancer is not an emergency.   But as I have in the past posted,I hated the interval imposed on me by my urologist between biopsy and surgery.   It was 40 days including my day of prostate biopsy and day of surgery.   So I have been doing some document searches to see what the scientific data indicates.   In the spirit of evidence based medicine and best practice and all that stuff. Not that it makes much difference because after all it should be up to he person holding the knife so to speak.   But… I have identified the following studies, not exactly proof positive, does anybody have additional info?     I.http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118599297/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 CONCLUSION The interval between prostate biopsy and retropubic RP appears to have no effect on immediate postoperative outcomes. We were unable to determine a specific minimum required interval beyond 2 weeks after prostate biopsy before proceeding with RP.   2. http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=18870804 CONCLUSIONS The results of our study have shown that performing radical prostatectomy shortly after prostate biopsy, within 4 to 6 weeks, does not adversely influence surgical difficulty or efficacy.   Hero  
Posted 1/4/2010 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
At 6 weeks post dx, I was so confused I wasn't about to make a decision. In 3 months I went from leaning towards robotic surgery to seeds to finally doing a clinical study of TFT and cryosurgery. I'm still amazed how many take more time considering buying a car than they do contemplating radical procedures and the after effects. Oh well to each their own. This is one decision I can't see rushing or just jumping to because it's more convenient to do it because a doctor has an open date. darn the fact that the prostate should really heal at least 8 weeks according to most surgeons. Personally if I was undergoing major surgery I would want the best possible conditions before it. This is once again more treating anxiety than the PCa itself. The ole get it out of me asap ignoring the fact it's grown over years and that a few more weeks doesn't matter. Now of course there are those with high PSD and velocity that do have a valid rush I understand that. My normal disclaimer
Posted 1/4/2010 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
It is my understanding that the plane between the rectum and prostate is what need to heal. Otherwise, there is normal granulation tissue there in the healing process. This has a rich blood supply and can make for technical problems when trying to separate the gland from the rectal wall. I was told this to quieten my jumping up and down because I was given a six week interval between the two procedures. Made sense to me.
Posted 1/6/2010 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Intersting. I had to delay due to my wife's surgery--it was quite a year-- so it was 3 1/2 months between diagnosis and surgery. I worried, that it would grow in that time lag--needless to say I was not a good patient for watchful waiting. It is gone now, so now I worry about ED. Cheers.
Posted 1/7/2010 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
about 8 weeks for me. Almost exactly 2 years and 1 week ahead of you.
Posted 1/7/2010 11:47 AM (GMT 0)
hi i was told 8 weeks after a normal biopsy but i have just had well late november a template biopsy[32]parts.does this extend the waiting period as its much more disruptive barry
Posted 1/7/2010 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
Greetings, Mel.  I had my biopsy on Dec 17 and then surgery on Feb 4.  My doc said "about" six weeks in between and I was just over that.  In our family my wife is the nurse and I am the bean counter.  So when the doc said wait six weeks and she said that makes sense, my only job was to count out six weeks and work with the scheduler!  David

Posted 1/7/2010 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
We were told wait 4 weeks, ended up with surgery at 10 weeks.

Smiley

Posted 1/7/2010 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Mine was about 8 weeks also.I understand that 6 weeks from biopsy to surgery is the minimum!
Hope it goes well for you.
I'm 7 weeks post surgery and physically well,challenged on physical relations( none of the erection enhancers are working yet,dealing with normal male ego stuff.
Posted 1/7/2010 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
14 weeks here from biopsy to surgery but I was in no hurry. It gave me plenty of time to decide my treatment course. Then I had time to prepare myself physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. 

I was happy to finally get it over with but I was never in a rush.

Posted 1/7/2010 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Actually what brainsurgeon stated was what my doctors stated. It wasn't for the healing of the prostate in so much to have time to let the rectum and surrounding tissue to heal. I had to wait 10 weeks before surgery.
Posted 1/7/2010 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
I could have had mine within 4 weeks of the biopsy if I'd chosen that course. Once the decision was made after meeting with the radiation doc to go with surgery (2 weeks post biopsy) my doc said he needed about 2 weeks to set it up. I actually waited 3 months so I could get through tax season.
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