Are there others ready to have a biopsy done in the future.... I need some answers

  I am new to this site...... I've never heard of having a low PSA and yet my urologist says he does not like the feel of my prostate and tells me there is still a 30% chance of prostate cancer, I have never heard of this, I always thought it was the opposite..... are there others in this predicament?  I will appreciate your input on this..... thank you...... Richard -- pa

Hi   ~ Richard   & Loved Ones,               A    “Special”   Warm Welcome   to   You!         I know we can “all” make Your Journey smoother while you are waiting for answers ~ just by being here for you!    Thank you for reaching out!!!     You’ve just made your own journey a lot smoother.   There are a lot of Helping Hands here… and just by reaching out like you did ~ you will have a much easier time.   We’ve been where you are now…. Knowing you aren’t alone… makes a big difference in psyche and spirit.   We will always be here for you… This is truly a great forum!!! ~ You have joined! You are now part our forum family ~ a group of wonderful individuals who are so willing to share their journey with you!     It helps “all of us” ~ to help you ~ if we know where you are on your path. So ~ Please stay with us and take our hand when you need it!   Keep posting.... OKAY!!         KNOWLEDGE IS POWER... and POWER conquers fear     We invite you to visit our personal thread in the signature area below . Our thoughts and prayers will be with you as you continue to search for answers.   In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy     “God Bless You”   It's a little prayer   ~   "God Bless You"   ...but it means so much each day, It means may angels guard you and guide you on your way.   (Direct Link ~ just click on the title below and a new window will open!   Reminder … click on the REFRESH icon once you get there) Helpful Hints ~ & ~ Direct Links to Important Topic Threads ~ Hope this helps you!! :)   Post edited to delete our signature line only (helping to save space on the server!) Post Edited (bluebird) : 7/19/2007 8:42:41 AM (GMT-6)

Rick,

The 30% id a statistical figure. As you know, statistics are not the end all, be all. There are many, many journal sites you can begin searching through but, it might be in your best interest to wait until the biopsy / urethrascope are done so you will have something to look up. Whether your UT / prostate condition is cancer related or not, there still has to be a diagnosis. Don't go scaring yourself into a tizzy just yet. The imagination can do some wicked things to a man's mind...please be cautious.
The unecessary, long waits for tests are enough to drive a person buggy. Try to find a way to keep busy and off the subject for part of the day everyday. Volunteer, take up a new excersise habit, paint the house, fix the neighbors fence! Anything that'll redirect your mind a bit.

If you really need to look up a few things...because you are like most people on earth...try places like Urology Times or Medscape (urology). These may be of some use. Most of all, try to realx. 18 days is a long way away and even longer when you're anxious. Best of luck...sounds like you've had some already given your history.

Be Well, Swim

gosh .....swim..biker90..bluebird...kziz.... you guys are all super great. You have enlightened me about a lot of questions that I had ....like you say keep busy and trying not to dwell on the negative.... I will look forward to chatting with you all and keeping you up to date.

Richard --pa

Quote from Richard *Rick Roma   aka Richard –pa   posted on Trey’s Thread HI TREY...... I am also in shock over my future biopsy....... I have a low PSA, but my urologists does not like feel of my prostate... I always thought it was the other way around..... I have suffered where depression for many years and alone also. I'm really scared. I don't know what the future will bring..... and if it's cancer knowing what steps to take....... wish you all the BEST...... Richard -- PA   Hi ~ Richard Just a little note…     This “Hug” is for you!!!      If your biopsy comes back ~ not prostate cancer… we will be right here to cheer with you.   But not knowing is the hardest!!!   So start now to understand what’s in front of you… Consultation, Biopsy,…   We have had a few who have joined us and we cheerfully waved goodbye to them once their biopsy came back not Pc.                          Knowledge is Power…. Power takes away the fear   You have reached out and this is the best gift you can give yourself.   Accept our “Helping Hands” as you travel this path you didn’t expect to be on.   We are all here to let you know that you will do fine if you take one step at a time.   Learn as much as you can about this cancer and it will help to take away most of the fear.   I won’t say all of the fear…. but once you understand what’s in front of you…. you can start to move forward in a positive direction.     It has made me smile to see you on Chat… with fellow friends.   This is truly a wonderful tool and will help you through this. Please ~ stay with us… Share all emotions here!!!   It will truly help you!   We are here ~ so lean on “all of us”.     You will feel our “STRENGTH” surround you as you step on to the stepping-stone that will lead to your biopsy.   Please ~ do what you have to do to not let this trigger your depression.   If so ~ get the help you need to help you through this.  You will need to be strong and in good mental as well as physical health to travel this path.     Below is an excerpt from “Our Journey”…. This book helped us to understand fully what the biopsy was all about !!!   Keeping you close in thoughts and prayers as you move forward. In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy   Excerpt from Our Journey ~ Sharing is Caring by Lee & Buddy   ** Dr. Walsh’s Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer… (Give Yourself a Second Opinion), is truly a book of knowledge… teaching you about this disease… that affects the whole family!   It is not a book to make you scared ~ but to make you think, to make you understand, and to make you knowledgeable about this terrible cancer….. It doesn’t hold back….   But remember…being scared is part of this whole picture at the beginning anyway… so take in the information that is offered from its contents.     We are not promoting this treatment.... that is definitely a personal choice.  This book has information that "all of us" can use no matter what treatment you decide on.    Read only areas that you are comfortable reading at first.   Gradually you will likely read it all…   I did not read Chapter 12 until after our surgery and after we had a few weeks under our belt.   Then I skimmed through the pages… and it made me really appreciate what we have just gone through….. and give thanks each day for having found this cancer early.     We hope this link helps you!! Scroll down to the 3rd posting when you get there for some quick links .. (Direct Link ~ just click on the title below and a new window will open!   Reminder … click on the REFRESH icon once you get there) Helpful Hints ~ & ~ Direct Links to Important Topic Threads ~ Hope this helps you!! :)   «   bluebird ~   Moderator for Prostate Cancer Forum Caring is Sharing ~ Please donate.... www.healingwell.com/donate Post Edited (bluebird) : 6/16/2007 12:58:54 PM (GMT-6)

Hi ~ Richard,   Magaboo was alone also and he did extremely well!!!!   Take a look at his thread and pull from his strength… it will help you to know You Are Not Alone ….   Even when you see that most have spouses and/or significant others ~ don’t let this pull you down.   We are all here for you so lean on us.   (Direct Link ~ just click on the title below and a new window will open!   Reminder … click on the REFRESH icon once you get there)   click here…>>>   Another new case Started by:   Magaboo   Chat has problems with this and maybe over time it will get worked out… I call it getting goosed!!!   Just smile and sign back on.   If it happens more than 4 times… then sign-off and know that we are all getting goosed!   And check back later.   Remember it’s open 24/7   just sign-on and when others look to see who’s on…. They will see you.   Happy chatting and posting….   Tuck that hug close and pull strength from it. In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy   «   bluebird ~   Moderator for Prostate Cancer Forum Post Edited (bluebird) : 6/16/2007 1:02:36 PM (GMT-6)

Hello Courtney, that's an amazing story. You really are like family. This site has helped me tremendously and feeling not so alone. I just want to say thank you for caring... kurt is very fortunate to have someone like you in his life. on my way right now to the dermatologist, a deadly melanoma on my arm. Two years ago and 35 stitches and doing well.... I'm just getting one challenge after another..., I will try to roll with the punches............

sincerely, Richard...pa

hi trey....was your psa low when you were first diagnosed? Did the urologist feel something suspicious with your prostate exam? This is what happened to me. I'm alone allso and my independence is extremely important..... did you have any side effects with the radiation? I appreciate your help.... I'm really scared right now......... the urologist said he wants to check back and front...o boy..... he said he will put me out for .. 10 minutes..... I will go to a medical center where they do these procedures.

thanks for your help -- Richard -- PA

Hi Rick

While my circumstances were not similar to yours, I stupidly avoided having a biospy for three years after it was recommended to me.  Don't let anyone scare you about having a biopsy and make sure if you have one that they take at least 20-core samples to give you greater assurance as to whether or not you have PCa and at what stage (I had a 29-core biopsy).  I was lucky to still be in an ealier stage of PCa when I was diagnosed three years later than I should have been, but I was not at the earliest stage.  Just make sure that if you have a biopsy that the urologist numbs the prostate in some way so that the biopsy will be essentially painless.  You seem to be in a situation where having the biopsy may take some of the worry away from you and tell you definitively whether or not you have PCa.  I hope and pray that you do not have PCa.  If you do, I can assure you that many of our wonderful memebers will be here for you. 

You might be interested in reading my journey with prostate cancer by clicking on the link below.  It gives further information on my biopsy and may answer some of your questions on radiation treatment, including my side effects (which were mild and have now gone away since treatment ended in April 2007).  Also, my journey includes some links to helpful PCa resources.

Best of luck!

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&p=1&m=726381

Dave

Just posted this today.

Just finished reading this months AARP Bulletin.  There is a short article in it reporting John Hopkins has developed a new blood test for prostate cancer.  The new test reduces the amount of false positive biopsies.  According to the article biospies done due to the PSA blood test average 80% false positives.  The new blood test, EPSA-2, in testing had a 3% false positive rate.  EPSA-2 stands for Early Prostate Specitic Antigen - 2.  I wonder if that new test has been standardized in the medical community.  Those on this forum should pass this along to those that post here prior to having a biopsy.

Tamu

If you are waiting on a biopsy or have had one or more with false positives then you might want to query your urologist about this new blood test from John Hopkins.

Tamu

Tamu, thanks for mentioning the AARP bulletin.  The information about the new test looks promising and I would like to emphasize an important statistic.  80%--80%--80% of everyone who has a biopsy is cancer free.  I like the sound of that much better than "you have a 30% chance of having cancer".  I forgot that 80% of all statistics are made up.