PSA going up having biopsy

It's been almost two years since I have been to the OUR Lab website, so I thought I'd check it out today.

There is a new test called the PCA3 which is a urine based test. Here is the partial blurb on it :

To Quote ( I added the "bolding" )  :

HOW TO USE PCA3:

When the initial biopsy is negative, and a second biopsy is contemplated, a high PCA3 score suggests that cancer has been missed. A second biopsy should be performed.

A low PCA score does not indicate that there is no underlying tumor. A low PCA3 score means it is less likely that a tumor will be found on a subsequent biopsy.

Unquote.

This is one sticky-wicket.  Why would a second biopsy be contemplated if the first was negative ?? 

Maybe this is why the commitee doesn't recommend routine PSA testing for men without symptoms or a family history, etc.  Once a guy starts down this road, there is basically no turning back.  It leads to a lot of reimbursement, but a whole bunch of worry/anxiety for the patient.   Just my two-cents.

 

I always thought a biopsy is suppose to clear up any questions that the screening test may have brought up, such as the PSA test ( high false positive rate), rising PSA, PCA3 test, etc.

The biopsy is suppose to be the golden diagnostic standard, except for the fact that it only takes a sample of tissue. So again, I don't see why a second biopsy should be done. IMHO, this is simply asking to be overdiagnosed, with the risk of a bunch of possibly serious complications.

I believe any of us who has been diagnosed has been walking around with CaP for probably 20 years, or more. It's not that big of a deal ( not life threatening) until the PSA goes above the "trigger level" or the velocity rises. Then a biopsy may be indicated.

I was planning on doing AS ( and I did) until my second biopsy came back a 7. But the only reason why I had a second biopsy was because my first was positive, not negative. My QOL was great while I was on AS - no complications.