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Posted 9/3/2011 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I posted for the first time about a month ago regarding my psa of about 12 and an upcoming biopsy. Well with your help I did have it done, thank you. Anyway, I'm 66, Dr. said psa 13, I think they took 8or 10 samples. The right side came back positive.

The Dr was nice enough to call and give me that much information over the phone, that surprised me. I won't know anything else till I see him come Thursday afternoon so I can't give anymore info now.

What would be the important question or questions I need to ask and do you think there will be some other kind of test before he would recommend a course of action???

Thanks for any additional help while I'm waiting for my follow appt.

Regards,
Bordello

Post Edited (Bordello) : 9/2/2011 7:57:35 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/3/2011 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
Ask for a copy of the biopsy report. It will help you later, as there is much too much information to digest in one visit with the doctor. You will be going back to it time and again looking for bits of information that at first were simply medical gibberish, but you will begin to ask "what did it say about ...".

That's the most important thing to not forget.

Take it home and make a copy with your SSN blocked out, as you will be using this a lot, and showing it to others. No need to add identity theft to the mess.

Just some thoughts ...

Posted 9/3/2011 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
You will be told that you need a CT scan and a bone scan.

These are to rule out current metastases. A positive result on such tests is extremely unlikely, but you will not be able to talk the docs out of them.

For any treatment that involves anasthesia, you will need a chest x-ray.
Again, unlikely to be in fact useful, but again, you will not convince anyone not to have it.

You want to know the Gleason scores, the % of the cores that are cancer tissues, and then take your time going through the treatment options. You may not have years and years to make a decision, but you do have weeks and not minutes.

The doc has eased you into this with the call, but you will still be in shock when the dpc goes through the details, so as advised above, get as much in writing as you can so you can read slowly and absorb
Posted 9/3/2011 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Larc has it just about perfect. Another good thing is bring someone with you for a second set of ears. sometimes we just dont get all that is said. If you have a recorder that is a good thing to do as well. Record the consult then you can play it back and process it to see what you missed the first time.

Cajun Jeff
Posted 9/3/2011 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks to all for this important information. I would never have thought of these things. I'm pretty new to this forum so not sure if or how to reply to each person that was kind enough to give the help here. You all have been a big help, I will make a note of each suggestion to take and I will look for a recorder as I have no one to take with me.

Many Thanks,
Bordello
Posted 9/3/2011 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
All we ask Bordello is that you be there for the next guy asking the same kinds of questions. We all pay it forward.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Cajun jeff
Posted 9/3/2011 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
Fully understood and of course I am willing to share whatever I learn as I go along this road.

Regards,
Bordello
Posted 9/3/2011 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
I concur with all the great suggestions. I would add one more that a fellow PCa member suggested and that is to click on the main forum page and click on the third topic titled "Prostate Cancer Resources and Direct Links to Sites, Videos and Books. I would highly suggest ordering the book by Dr. Patrick Walsh, Surviving Prostate Cancer and have them ship it to you ASAP. I have found that book to be a great resource right after my biopsies and the results came back with the bad news that I was blessed with this cancer.

I would also say to not panic (easier said than done) I walked in a fog of disbelief for three weeks, and that you have plenty of time to read and get up to speed on all the various options that you have and please feel free to ask questions as Cajun Jeff just recommended. There are may of this forum that just went through what you are going through this year, and many over the past years. You will find this forum to not only be a wealth of information but an amazing emotional support group as well.

I have been over whelmed by the unselfishness, time and recommendations that I have received since February by participating here. My daughter found this website back in February, and I can say next to Dr. Walsh's book, it has provided me with great information and recommendations.

I am so sorry about your biopsy results and that you have PCa but we welcome you and look forward to helping you in anyway that we can.

Good Luck on this new journey that you are now on.
Posted 9/3/2011 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bordello

Nothing more to add to what has already been said by some of our educated colleagues.

Best of luck with your upcoming appointment. Stay in touch with us all.

Posted 9/3/2011 8:35 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys for the additional information and support this fine forum is giving. It's very comforting to have a place to turn to at this bleak time in life.

You're all appreciated.

Regards,
Bordello
Posted 9/3/2011 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Bordello,

I'm not sure if this was mentioned by any of the others, but you may want to ask that the biopsy slides be sent to a second pathologist ... i.e. get a second opinion.

Posted 9/3/2011 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bordello

This stage is all about trying to work out how much bad stuff there is, how bad is it and where it is. The words on the report do explain this, but for most of us it takes a long time to undertsand the vocabulary, terminology, abbreviations etc. used by labs and uros.
Yes, take that report home to digest slowly over coming days and weeks, but, frankly, I think we'd all benefit from a more basic explanation in the office on the day.

The uro probably has a picture on his wall of what the male anatomy looks like in cross-section. Why not get him to show you on that diagram where then problem is. He might have a fairly good idea where the biopsy needles were stuck and should be able to point and explain along the lines of: "this needle found a little bit; this needle found none; this needle found plenty," or whatever it was they found.
I know this might sound a bit like how you'd explain it to a child, but this is about getting the message across and our brains go into overdrive at this stage and can get confused or ignore things etc. Thus a simple (and visually supported) explanation can go a long way towards putting a foundation of understanding in place for what comes next as you learn more and more.

All the best.

Alf
Posted 9/3/2011 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks again for the added information, I go to the V.A. and have no other resources so I'm guessing a second opinion is probably out. I will just have to wait till Thursday and see what I'm told.

Many thanks for all the help,
Bordello
Posted 9/4/2011 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Take a notebook along with you and start a journal.  It will come in handy down th line.  If you have someone that you can take with you to take notes in addition to yours it will be a help.  Write down all your questions and have the doctor answer all of them.   Consider all your treatment options.  Don't rush into anything.  You have time.  You are not going to die today or tomorrow.  Get copies of every test and result.
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