(No Subject)

Hi

I am 62. My doctor said my "AS" (thanks for clarifying the difference) would follow this plan.

I suppose AS is more intense "watching"

My Dr. said my "AS" program would consist of one more biopsy a year after the first. If everything looks the same then an MRI every year for the rest of my life (or until they come up with a definitive alternative)

but in my case not a biopsy every year. I would think that would be too much!

fuzzboxman-

The best biopsy plan is a contingent one, and you can't know in advance. The first f/u must be a biopsy, preferably targeted with mpMRI or CDUS or a template mapping biopsy. After that, the next biopsy will depend on the findings from the previous one. Certainly, if there seemed to be more or higher grade cancer found, you'd want f/u biopsies more frequently. If none was found (that happens 30% of the time) you can comfortably just have an mpMRI and wait a few years for the next biopsy. But you cannot forgo biopsies forever.

The difference between watchful waiting and AS is that AS always has an intention to treat if there is progression. WW has no intention to treat -- only palliative care.

- Allen