HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Hello, new here and currently awaiting biopsy results.

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/6/2015 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
I’m 47 years old, my father had prostate cancer at age 56, so because of that I began getting screened early. Below are how my numbers have steadily progressed.

2010 - 0.81
2011 - 0.97
2012 - 1.24
2013 - 1.82
2014 - 2.2
2015 - 2.9

Starting around the same time, I started experiencing some slight discomfort in that area, such as temporary inflammation type pain after sex (but isn’t all the time), frequent urination (not all that abnormal for really), and some ED.

I have Kaiser Permanente HMO and their normal threshold is 2.5, so despite the steady upward trend for the past 5 years, I just went over the acceptable limit triggering a biopsy recommendation.

Had the biopsy 3 days ago (ouch). During the procedure, Urologist commented that the physical and ultrasound exams did not reveal anything concerning. Said he would also eyeball the color of the cores to see if they looked clear or tinted as they came out -but then he never said either way, so I don’t know if he just didn’t think to say or if he saw something concerning at that time and didn’t want to bring it up. Still waiting for the results, which they said takes about 10 days and then requires an office consultation regardless of the results.

Pretty worried about it, if didn’t appear infected or inflamed/enlarged, then not sure what that leaves other than PC. My father had surgery for his and after some minor IC issues in the beginning, he’s pretty normal. I can’t imagine having to catheter forever. I think I’d rather take my chances with the cancer. Permanent IC scares me a lot more than permanent ED.

Anyway, I don’t have a lot to offer at this point since I’m just starting this whole journey, wherever it might take me. I guess I’m just venting here. Fingers crossed.
Posted 3/6/2015 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome Gumby,
The gentlemen will be along shortly to hopefully shine some insight on your worries. Just wanted you to know you aren't alone. Waiting is the worst part.~Miki~
Posted 3/6/2015 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW, sorry you need to be talking to us.

The 10 day wait is their standard answer, but often you get a call sooner. My Kaiser URO said 10 days and then called me 4 days later. It real depends on how backed up the lab is, how many biopsies this week, etc. and yeah, my Uro said, "You'll have to come in for the results." Then when it came back as positive for PC, he called me right away and told me the result over the phone then sent me to the cancer clinic.

Most biopsies are negative which I am sure they told you, it's very likely you won't be needing us for a very long time.

Still, waiting for these kinds of tests results is difficult and stressful. Just know, that even if the worst is true, you've caught it so early that you have a good chance for cure with minimal side effects.

Hang in there and let us know the biopsy result,
Andrew
Posted 3/6/2015 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
Gumby, based on what you show so far, your odds are very much in your favor. IF it's PC, it's probably early and localized. You don't say how long ago your father was treated. I guarantee that things are much, much better today than whenever he was treated.

The important things to ask when the biopsy comes back are:

Gleason score: it should come as two numbers, such as 3+3 or 3+4 or something like that, for each core.
% involvement: each core should also have a % involvement number
Finally, if it does come back cancerous, they should give you a stage number, such as T1c or something.
They may also give you something called PNI (not everyone does that one right away)

With that info, many questions can be readily answered.

Also, understand that urologists are usually surgeons...and they like to do surgery. If you come back positive, ask for a referral to a Radiation Oncologist (RO) to talk about the radiation options. Also ask about Active Surveillance (AS).

Last, bring your questions here. Great group of guys all around.
Posted 3/6/2015 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
I would be betting with your numbers, you will come back cancer free at this point. Due to your family history, I do feel you did the right thing by having the exam and biopsy.

One step at the time, wait for the results, and if they come back positive, then by all means, this is the place to be. Lots of experience, sympathy, and empathy, for all things PC.

Hope you don't need our services long term, best of luck

David
Posted 3/6/2015 10:54 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum Gumby. waiting on test results is never fun and can be quite nerve wracking, but hang in there. You've done the right thing IMO by keeping an eye on things. Here's hoping your biopsy results come back negative. Let us know how you make out, we are all here to help.

Mike
Posted 3/6/2015 11:06 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the board Gumby I will echo " the wait is the worst" thing. Please keep us posted on your results and know that we are here all the time. My hat is off to you for being proactive due to family history. Hoping for the best for you Gumby.
Posted 3/6/2015 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gumby, *LIKE* your handle BTW, that's my son's nickname - comes off of our family name.

At this point it's premature to join our club, and hopefully you'll only be visiting. Once the biopsy results come in, please share them with us - lots of experience and help out here. I would also now start planning on getting a 2nd read on your biopsy slides, labs such as Bostwick and Epstein are two of the best and a 2nd opinion is usually a good thing to do at this point.

We'll be here to help you understand the report, until then my very best to you.
Posted 3/6/2015 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
Gumby: Not much to add except I would not rule out the possibility of prostatitus and potential treatment. Your young age seems to indicate something other than PC.

I wish you well and please keep us posted.
Posted 3/6/2015 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
What everybody else said! You are fortunate that you were flagged for early screening due to your dad's PCa. My dad passed away in his early 50s due to a heart attack so I'll never know what kind of cancer issues he might have had.

We've all been through the waiting thing - it's very nerve racking. Hang in there and check back in with us with your report.
Posted 3/6/2015 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I just got a call this morning and biopsy was negative, no cancer. Urologist has released me back to my primary care physician and has recommended I continue with my annual PSA checks. As relieved as I am, I am still left wondering what's going on since they offered no alternative explanation and I'm the type of analytical thinker who obsesses about the hows and whys of just about everything (drove my school teachers nuts as a kid, LOL).

I found this place by chance doing Google searches and I have to say in the very short time I've been here, the timely, informative and empathetic responses I received from a single thread demonstrate this is a good place for people looking for information and support. Kudos to you all and thank you. I wish you all well and hope I won't need to return anytime soon (although I might lurk now and then just to stay educated on the subject for future reference).

Should anyone be looking at a biopsy soon through Kaiser and wants some perspective on how they do it and my experience with them, please feel free to message or email me and I'll be glad to share.

Take care, Jason (Gumby26)
Posted 3/6/2015 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
Jason - glad to hear that result. A couple of thoughts here for your over active mind:

1. The biopsy process is somewhat random. They hit the most likely areas but it's possible they missed.
2. 2.9 PSA isn't that much, could be a needle in a haystack problem.
3. Even if they found PC right now, it's likely you wouldn't need to treat and could do active surveillance for a long time.
4. The PSA could be raising for other reasons. BPH, enlarging prostate for example or just getting older.
5. Just possible you don't have anything but an odd PSA number.

So, you just keep monitoring the PSA and if it goes up - get it checked out again.

Till then, go live life, forget about this and enjoy,
Andrew
Posted 3/6/2015 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Gumby, that is great to hear. One of the concepts that's out there is PSA doubling time. How quickly is your PSA doubling? It looks like it's greater than 2 years, which puts you in the category of "keep an eye on it".

Also, there are things that can cause PSA changes that many people (including doctors) don't take into account. Two common examples: If you have a DRE, you shouldn't get your blood draw for PSA for 48 hours. Also, you shouldn't have your blood draw for 48 hours after any form of sexual activity. It's surprising how many men get a PSA scare because of a blood draw a few hours after a DRE when they engaged in sexual activity the day before.

Keep doing your research, learn everything you can.
Posted 1/5/2016 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
2010 - 0.81
2011 - 0.97
2012 - 1.24
2013 - 1.82
2014 - 2.2
2015 - 2.9
2016 - 3.6

Well it's still going up, seems like the fractions are getting larger (is this what's called doubling time?) I've been referred back to the Urologist. It's been less than a year since my negative biopsy so I'm not expecting to have to do another just yet, but at this rate I'll be in the 4's or higher by next year.

Not really looking for too much from you all here, I know many of you are dealing with some serious stuff. but I appreciate the info I get by reading around the forum and am documenting my own progress here. If there are any changes I'll report back again.

Thanks for listening.
Posted 1/5/2016 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear it's still rising. Best talk to the URO.

Instead of another biopsy you might get some imaging done to check on the size and other issues.

The URO is likely to be thinking a second biopsy. The question would be when. Likely once it gets over 4.

Sadly the standard 12 core biopsy is a bit random, so it's not that uncommon to hear stories of guys getting 2 or 3 biopsies before they find the PC. There are MRI guided and saturation biopsies that might be more appropriate for you.

The other question to ask the URO is what else could be driving your PSA up. PC is a prime suspect for you, but BPH and infection are still possibilities that should at least be discussed.

and yes, some of the folks here are dealing with serious stuff, but you're important too, so we're here for you too.

Andrew
Posted 1/5/2016 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
Your actual doubling time is three years, which is the rise from 1.8 to 3.6. Just know that PSA isn't a test for cancer--just one indicator and not a super accurate one at that. That said, I think you're doing the right thing by checking with your urologist. Let us know what your uro says and thanks for checking back in with us.
Posted 1/6/2016 12:19 AM (GMT 0)

InTheShop said...

Instead of another biopsy you might get some imaging done to check on the size and other issues.


Not sure of the details, but I know at the beginning of the biopsy procedure, the Urologist measured size and shape with the probe (sonogram?), did a finger check, and a visual check of the core color as they came out, all of which he said were normal to him.

InTheShop said...

The other question to ask the URO is what else could be driving your PSA up. PC is a prime suspect for you, but BPH and infection are still possibilities that should at least be discussed.


When my biopsy came back negative, of course I was happy about that. But at the same time still disappointed that the cause was not known or even addressed. Basically they just dismissed me back to my primary to watch the PSA annually. Kinda makes me think they expect cancer to eventually be revealed but that it's just too early to detect or treat yet; just my thoughts.

Also, my maternal grandfather, who is elderly, has an aggressive form of PC that appeared and metastasized within about 2 years and it's in his bones already. 2 years ago he had a normal PSA and out of nowhere it skyrocketed and polluted him. So I have early PC on my father's side (age 56) and aggressive PC on my mother's side in my 85 yr old grandfather.

Post Edited (Gumby26) : 1/6/2016 12:11:14 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/6/2016 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
I know the feeling. After my initial biopsy we were like "oh, that's great" only to be greeted by yet another PSA in the high 4s @ 51 yoa. OK, something is causing this, right?! After the doc recommended a 'saturation biopsy' I changed to Hopkins for a different perspective where a MRI found the 'suspicious lesion' followed up by a Uronav biopsy. The rest is history.....
Posted 1/6/2016 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
Gumby - given your family history your docs are likely thinking PC. At low PSA it can be hard to find it, but you don't want to wait till the PSA gets too high. The diagnosis is a bit tricky. You might need to get a little pushy with your docs about what is going on.

In my case, I had PSA numbers like you with a brother who had PC. The found my G7 on the first biopsy and I was off the RT clinic right after that.

Hang in there, and don't be afraid to demand a few answers,
Andrew
Posted 1/6/2016 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Gumby, good luck, whatever the uro says. You've gotten good advice, i dont have much to add. If it turns out you do have something brewing, with the pace of your PSA increases, its highly possilbe that it is a non aggressive cancer. But lets hope its not cancer at all..

Have you tried taking a course of Cipro, or other Antibiotic, to rule out infection? My understanding is that when PSA is between 4 and 10 is when that might be called for. Although i think in situations of infection, you'd probably see a faster and more dramatic rise.

If i were in your shoes, and had it to do over again, i would insist on an MRI guided biopsy, or saturation biopsy (probably the former, the latter sounds nasty). Also, before any biopsy, you might want to ask for a retest with "free PSA", and also a PCA3, which is a urine test that looks for genetic material that would be present i there was cancer.
Posted 1/6/2016 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Gumby26,

Have been reading your post from day one! Sorry you have to be here, yet glad no PC has been found!

Good that you're staying on top of getting your PSA test every year!

As you can read on my thread, I waited way too long to have my PSA checked. I'm one of those guys that didn't even know what a PSA was until I was 61!

The past several months, my PSA has been <0.064. This month, I have my PSA checked as well as a 6 month Lupron. I get a monthly XGeva injection.

Take care and keep us informed of your progress. Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers!

Dave in Bartlett, TN
Posted 1/6/2016 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gumby, I want to echo what Pratoman stated, you should get a PSA free % test for sure. It can be done with the same vial of blood for the PSA and Kaiser does them with no problem. That was the test that kept pushing me to find the answer to my elevated PSA with negative biopsies and negative MRI. In the end I went to a doctor for a color doppler ultrasound and he did a targeted biopsies and found the cancer (at the time I had Kaiser and they don't pay for that so I had to pay out of pocket). So if your PSA number keeps going up (PSA Free % goes down for higher percentage of being cancer) then more targeted options would be better than the random biopsies. Good luck on your journey and I hope you don't have to join this club.
-JR
Posted 1/6/2016 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
Gumby,
I just wanted to say welcome. I didn't see your post when you first posted. I don't think your PSA numbers are out of line for your age, but the steady increase does bear watching, especially the increase since last year. Be sure to abstain from sex, riding the exercise bike, or anything else that could stimulate the prostate for a couple of days before your next PSA test, because these events can boost the PSA number. With luck, you will level off near where you are now and will not have to join our club other than as a welcome guest.
Jim
Posted 1/6/2016 7:10 AM (GMT 0)
Lots of good advice here, things I was unaware of asking about. Thank you all.
Posted 1/6/2016 10:28 AM (GMT 0)
Gumby,
High grade PCa can sometimes produce little PSA. Biopsies are not fool proof and can miss the cancer. I hope in your case it is not, but PSA velocity bears closer inspection. This is how my cancer was found. Be your own advocate and find out what the cause is.
Good Luck and hope that it is nothing.
Regards,
Kris
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12