question about biopsy

PSA level was 6.5 in december 2014  (with a family history of prostate cancer) 3.2 in 2010....

 and I am scheduled for a biopsy this Thursday -- the question I need answered is it possible for the urologist to know within a resonable limit if any of the samples are cancerous or will I need to wait unti the lab comes back with the 'formal' results.  thanks!

Welcome Tc. Personally I think the answer to your question absolutely no. Having said that if he's been around the block a few times he will have an educated guess. The urologist who did mine (biopsy) kept repeating that it was not enlarged (prostrate) as if it were good news. I took the realistic approach and did some research to prepare myself for negative results. It will not be wasted time no matter the results. This forum may be as far as need to go until you get your results. I'm not going to say "don't worry", I'm going to say be pro-active and be prepared to have to an intelligent
conversation when the time comes. Keep asking questions here, we're all here to help each other!
Cheers, Doug

hi tc,

 Welcome glad you found, us sorry you have to be here. there is a lot of reasons for psa to rise, infection, prostheses, sex with 24hrs of your test, bad day at the lab, etc, so hopefully your visit here is short.

  I had my first post here almost 1 year ago and it was very similar to yours and I received a lot of helpful responses and I'm sure you will too. Stay busy and as doug said educate yourself and keep yourself positive. And i'll share with you what Andrew told me "it is what it is kinda hard to put it in a box and not think about it" I don't know why but that one helped. hope it does for you too. But more to your question my results came back in 3 days but my doc insisted on a office visit for the results about 1 week from biopsy.(he said he never wants to give the news over the phone).

good-luck carl

  

Its based on the lab schedule. Samples thursday they have late thurs or friday am. Lucky if u get Friday as there is quite a bit of detailed slide work. More likely Mon or Tues results. I believe i was a Thursday Monday afternoon.

Welcome to HW. Sorry you need to be here but it's a good place to learn.

You won't know anything until the lab report comes back. The waiting is the killer, isn't it?

Any speculation at this point is mostly pointless. Until the samples are under a microscope, no one can know what's up.

Hang in there, the waiting - waiting for that other shoe to drop - nearly drove me crazy but you can get through it. Please keep us updated on your progress.
Andrew

Hoping the best for you, but regardless of what it is , keep a paper copy for your records rather than accepting an over the phone report from the receptionist at the uro's office.

LupronJim

Just my 2 cents, set an appointment with your uro after the biopsy to come back into the office to get the results rather than getting a phone call.

1) You will have less anxiety since you know you won't hear anything until your appointment.

2) If it is bad news, ask for a copy of the biopsy while you are there. As Lupron Jim said, you will have a paper copy for your records.

3) Again if you get the bad news, your uro can explain the results and what cores they found cancerous and the Gleason scores.

That is what I did an I am happy I did it that way. I can't imagine hearing "You have cancer" over the phone.

I hope that the results are negative. I had 2 negative biopsies with a PSA as high as 9 over a 12 year period before my third unlucky biopsy.

Bill from Florida