HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Fusion Biopsy

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/13/2015 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning ,since my first Biopsy is gonna be a Fusion guided,and this will be my Uros first fusion biopsy although he assured me with his thousands of 12 cores and 20 yrs experience that it will be really no big deal.He compared it to having a GPS rather than a map to read.I had my 3T-Mri last week and the radiologist who Dx them will be at the Biopsy to assit my Uro with the Uno-Nav software.I remember someone here said its not the arrow but the Indian behind the arrow.So out of curiousity I put a call in to the radiologist to ask how many in his 14 yrs experience has he assisted a Fusion Biopsy? Is that a fair question? No call back yet.Nov 18 is the Biopsy under sedation.Wish me Luck.SemperFi
Posted 11/13/2015 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
Sedation??? You lucky bugger!

There is no arguing with the fact that practice certainly provides an advantage in all things in life.

That said, and having had my own Fusion biopsy last week, his description is pretty much right. The Radiologist will have used his skill to mark the suspicious area on the MRI as he has done many times before. The Uro knows his Ultrasound inside out so will locate your prostate as well as the next man and the software then does the 'Fusion' of the two images to overlay your lesion onto the real-time ultrasound image. Now, unlike in previous 'blind' biopsies of which he's done thousands, the URO can guide his needle to exactly the right spot (because he can see it now) and press his magic little 'fire' button.

He'll probably do 2-3 at the lesion site so he has some redundancy (mine did) and then map the remainder of the prostate biopsies just like he has every other time in his career.

So I don't see that there is a huge risk of a seriously poor result here, and they will surely have been through training. Is it ideal: no. Is it high risk: no (IMHO).

If you are going to stress about it (before or after) then for your own sanity you might wish to look elsewhere (but bear in mind you may have a longer wait and that too takes its own toll). I think in this case however this is not a 'new' procedure to either of them, it's more an 'improved' procedure for both of them.

Paul
Posted 11/13/2015 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Paul65,thank you for the reassurance.I think no one looks forward to having a Biopsy.Yes Im stressed but I want to go forward and find out whats inside me.Im so fortunate to have all you guys sharing your knowledge and personal experience.Again,Thank You All
Posted 11/13/2015 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
I can't really add much to what Paul's already said. IMO, git'er done! I'm still trying to get over how you managed to get sedation out of them! LOL!!! After 2 biopsies, all I managed to get was a shot of lidocain up the toosh!

It seems your Uro has a lot of experience with biopsies, so that's a good thing to know when that wand is up your a**! Seriously though, you'll be fine. It's over with before you know it and you need to know what's going on inside you.
Posted 11/13/2015 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
You're very welcome 0311, there are a bunch of people standing shoulder to shoulder with you...

Per Ardua ad Astra
Posted 11/13/2015 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Did Paul65 join the Federal Witness Protection Program? Where did your name go?
Posted 11/13/2015 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
Wow. That's odd Michael. Never seen that before. LOL!
Posted 11/13/2015 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
I would have taken what you opted for with this guy before paying 3,500 or so out of pocket.

I don't really see how it being his first fusion should be that big a deal, and the MRI reader ought to take extra special care knowing it is the URO's first one.

The MRI is just being used to target, and this procedure is simple enough that while it may be slower, and the URO may take his time making sure he gets software overlaid correctly. Anybody would prefer someone who had done hundreds of Fusions, but this guy has done blind one for decades so it should go smooth.

I wasn't aware they normally sedated for a Fusion, I wonder if that is common?

Let us know your results.
Posted 11/14/2015 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Everyone,and to answer Ken,I wasnt given a choice about sedation.I guess my Uro wants to get this fusion done with no interruptions from me for his Virgin , cherry boy,first time glide up my arse.Gees.Im not complaining.Taps,lights out.One other question.In all Fusion guided Biopsys is there always supposed to be a Radiologist present to guide the Uro ?
Posted 11/14/2015 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Just my doc and a nurse at my biopsy. But my doc's been around the block, so to speak. With close to 4,000 RPs, he's likely done a few fusions or two!

As far as sedation, maybe your doc knows a potential problem child when he sees one. tongue
Posted 11/14/2015 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hello MDNative,maybe since its my Uros Virgin,cherry boy,first fusion guided its probably a good idea the RO is there.I just hope they allow for Kentucky windage as it gets windy in those canyons.I could be a PITA but Im not gonna be just another sheep in the pasture.SemperFi
Posted 11/14/2015 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
I'm sure that's all it is---a bit of training. Doesn't it feel great to the guinea pig and help launch another chapter in your doc's career?!
Posted 11/17/2015 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hey 0311

Was thinking of you and that you must have that biopsy soon (tomorrow I think). Good luck with it dude, all will go 100% smoothly I am sure. The worst part is waiting for the results... breathe deep and drink beer! I was licking the windows! Be ready for the usual weirdness afterwards... some blood in urine maybe, a slightly sore ass will focus your mind and the whole bloody semen thing. I mention it only because, even though you know all about it up front, the latter is still one alien/zombie/freakazoid thing to see...!

Thinking of you mate and sending good Karma your way.

Paul
Posted 11/17/2015 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Paul65,thanks for thinking of me.tomorrow the 18th I get the fusion biopsy.2 lesions to target and 12 more cores.total 16 cores.Ouch.Im worried about the lesion that was highly suspicious for prostate malignancy.I had posted the results of my 3t-mri in another post.Well off to Walgreens to get my fleet enema for the 8 am Biopsy.I will keep you posted.SemperFi
Posted 11/17/2015 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
Paul65,Your PIRAD was a 1? Thats good.Mine is a 4 not good.In your signature you have Next: noodle.What is that? Thanks
Posted 11/17/2015 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi 0311

Mine was a PIRADS 3/5 lesion, so only slightly better. What transpired was bizarre, it turned out that this MRI visible lesion was benign but they found G6 cancer that the MRI did not see in a completely different place! So I dodged the mortar and got hit by a stray bullet!

What that means is that even your 4/5 is not a 'done deal' as even a very 'visible' lesion on MRI is not necessarily sinister and the PIRADS ranking is entirely subjective.

By 'noodle' I mean 'noodle-on-it' i.e. take a pause, breathe and diligently work through my options in a rational and holistic manner. If they do get a hit on you I'd advise the same. Sizing up your enemy and considering all your options is vital before pulling any triggers.

Get the biopsy behind you, you'll be sore, that will keep you occupied...shocked there is nothing more you can or need to do/worry about right now other then 'working the problem'. We'll all be thinking of you and waiting for you when you get home.

Paul yeah
Posted 2/3/2016 2:54 AM (GMT 0)

Ken said...
I would have taken what you opted for with this guy before paying 3,500 or so out of pocket.

I don't really see how it being his first fusion should be that big a deal, and the MRI reader ought to take extra special care knowing it is the URO's first one.

The MRI is just being used to target, and this procedure is simple enough that while it may be slower, and the URO may take his time making sure he gets software overlaid correctly. Anybody would prefer someone who had done hundreds of Fusions, but this guy has done blind one for decades so it should go smooth.

I wasn't aware they normally sedated for a Fusion, I wonder if that is common?

Let us know your results.

I didn't get sedation for my fusion biopsy at NIH back in May 2015. I got local lidocaine direct injections into the prostate of course, three times actually. I think I've got more feeling in that area than other men in retrospect. For the fusion biopsy process, you have to stay perfectly still once the software alignment occurs, otherwise they have to stop and recalibrate. Because I winced a few times, they had to recalibrate at least two times. I'm wondering if they chose sedation to eliminate any possible movement, in retrospect I think it's probably a good idea.
Posted 2/3/2016 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hello HH, I think sedation is the way to go.I dont need to see or feel or anticipate anything.But thats me.good job on your AS .Wishing you the best,and as you know you have found the right place to be.Maybe run a PCA3 test.Your uro will massage your prostate then you pee into a container and they send it to a lab to see if there is any serious cancer.They then give it a PIRAD score.If you see my signature its all there.I had all these tests done and now Im on my final weeks of choosing my primary therapy.Good Luck,youll be fine.SemperFi
Posted 2/3/2016 3:55 AM (GMT 0)

0311 said...
Hello HH, I think sedation is the way to go.I dont need to see or feel or anticipate anything.But thats me.good job on your AS .Wishing you the best,and as you know you have found the right place to be.Maybe run a PCA3 test.Your uro will massage your prostate then you pee into a container and they send it to a lab to see if there is any serious cancer.They then give it a PIRAD score.If you see my signature its all there.I had all these tests done and now Im on my final weeks of choosing my primary therapy.Good Luck,youll be fine.SemperFi

0311, I agree, sedation rocks! scool

I did have a PCA3 test several years ago now, came back negative, I'll have to dig up the results and add it to my sig. Believe it or not I've been tracking my PSA since Y2k, when it was 4.4! I have a family history of PCa. No actual cancer diagnosis til Nov 2013, PSA 5.8 at that point in time, it's up to 6.6 from Dec bloodwork as part of a standard PCP visit. I'm scheduled for HDR BT at Fox Chase in my area on Feb 17 and Feb 24. Just went through initial 3T MRI and CT scans on Jan 22. T-minus two weeks tomorrow! I'm a bit apprehensive of course, but I think that's par for the course. Best of luck choosing your primary therapy.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply