Advice?

Hello and welcome.

Glad you checked in with us.

So you mean, the doctor is getting a second opinion on the first biopsy that came up negative? Or are you having a second biopsy taken?

At your age, its highly unlikely that you have prostate cancer, but would not say impossible. Could still be some trace of infection or previous infections via the calcification. That would seem more likely.

That fact that your father had it at a young age does add another layer of uncertainty, you definitely are at a slightly higher risk.

You PSA is way too high for your age, especially if proven not to be related to past or present infections or enlarging of your prostate.

Its possible at some point, you will need another biopsy, so hope it doesn't come down to that anytime soon for you.

Please stay with us, and keep us posted. I hope and pray you stay clear of the PC monster, you don't need that in your life.

Good luck to you,

David

Glad you cleared that up. It's a good thing to get a second opinion on any biopsy like that. It would better if your doctor sends it to a different lab. If you need to have a second biopsy done, ask your doctor if he would consider doing a saturation type, it would involve many more cores than 12, but the good thing, it would cover much more of your prostate gland, and be less inclined to miss something.

It took 3 biopsies spread over about 14 months, for my cancer to be found. There was a lot of it in the end, but the first 12 core biopsies simply missed it. The 3rd and final one was targeted into some shadows that showed up on the accompanying scan, and all 7 of 7 on the final biopsy came up positive, it was like hitting the mother lode.

Hopefully you won't need to permanently join this club here, you really don't want to, as the membership requirement is way to high. But in the meanwhile, hope you learn a lot of good information, in case you do have to deal with the beast one day.

How did you father make out with his prostate cancer?

David

My father had his prostate removed, and has been cancer free since that time. While he might have been a little young to have it, it seems unlikely that I have developed prostate cancer, but I would be lying if I said I am not worried about it.

As for a round of antibiotics, my oncologist has not put me on anything, so I will be sure to ask about that, as well as a saturation biopsy, if he suggests another. How often it is the case that I would end up having some sort of infection without it showing up in my urine?

Thanks for the direction!

Hello Gao and welcome. Yes, a second reading on the biopsy slides would seem appropriate. But, reading this pathology is as much art as science so I agree with Yooper, i.e. send them to Bostwick, Epstein or Oppenheimer who are experts in this field.

And, while an infection was not picked up via your urine sample, a round of antibiotics is probably in order IMHO. As PeterDA said, these prostate infections are sometimes hard to detect so you might want to go for the cure rather than waiting around for the detection. It is very unlikely that you have prostate cancer so some sort of infection is the likely cause of your issues -- I certainly hope so!

Jim

Welcome to HW, sorry you need to be talking to us.

Just wanted to say to keep us updated on your progress. You've gotten great suggestions so far and I don't have much to add other than say this is a great place for support and to ask questions.
Andrew

What testing procedure and yes it is very common for urine samples to not pick up prostatitus., which is why most uro's simply provide anti biotics and retest at later date. I assume Confirm MDX is a company that provides confirmation of Medical diagnoses. I also think, if I am, right thatthere "expertise" is not ltd to prostate cancer. They may sub contract diagnoses out to other folks in cases their expertise lacks. Ironically, Bostwick could very well be at the top of their subcontracting list. I would not be concerned at this time that you have Pca. But as you know,with your father having it you are at a higher risk. I see no point obsessing over it, if in fact you are. Doctors pick up on this and will respond with test after test, even when they are satisfied with your present condition. Fear of medical malpractice, rightly drives this

Just to add something, ConfirmMDX is a newer test for biopsy tissue that looks for cancer markers. Supposedly it can indicate cancer even if the biopsy is negative for actual cancer cells. They claim it can greatly expand the detection area of a biopsy sample, because it can read nearby tissues for cancer. I saw it on bloomberg news web site. It is explained here:

http://www.mdxhealth.com/products-and-technology/products/confirmmdx-for-prostate-cancer

Showed it to my doc but he really hadnt heard of it yet.

I should find out tomorrow the results of my fPSA test. Prior to being told my PSA is now up to 6.8, I was so certain I had some undiagnosed infection, but now I just don't know.

I have read two different things about fPSA results. If the results are at or under 10%, chances are much greater for PC and if 25% or higher, chances are lower. But, I also read that anything under 25% is troublesome. Can some of you tell me your fPSA ratio and total PSA when you were digagnosed?

Going from 2.1 to 6.8 in six months - is that, comparatively to those here, a steady climb (cancer likely) or is it going too high, too fast (infection likely)?

GAO:
Sorry to hear all of this. Hang in there and let us know what they find. My FPSA is 7.2 so we are kind of in the same waters so to speak. Got a uro apptmt this Friday. I am sure I will be getting a biopsy too.

I really think they are not gonna find anything. Just a feeling my friend. You will be stupefied but safe.

IF they do find Pca, it will be so early it will have a Gleason of 1.999(lowest one can have is a 2) and all they will need to do is shove a baby aspirin into your gland to kill whatever is there.

Post Edited (Mr.Toad) : 1/28/2014 6:38:56 PM (GMT-7)

Busy day with a 15 core biopsy! Dr said I had a 80% chance of being in the 20%. I think I understand that!

Should find out in one week. Samples being sent to Boswick.

"""""Appleseed said: "I like the idea of a T3 coil MRI of the prostrate. This image is of high quality and aids in a targeted biopsy. Not all places do this type of testing so you must look into it. It just might save you the aggravation of multiple biopsys. Also your prostrate must be healed from original biopsy for a quality image. Just my 2€, good luck..

.......Appleseed........"""""

^^^^^^^^
THIS!!!!!

HOW LONG is it going to take people to get this!!!????

Biopsies (especially repeated biopsies) should only be done AFTER a state of the art MRI with endorectal coil.

Biopsies can damage your prostate and nerves therein, causing trouble down the road.

The medical mantra is supposed to be "First do no harm."

Post Edited (Walnut) : 1/30/2014 8:53:30 PM (GMT-7)

Walnut, it will continue to happen until the Doctors get that msg. We tend to rely on them first and foremost for what to do.