"AS" How often should one have biopsy?

the swan - the genomic testing would be done after the biopsy pathology report if warranted.

The Prostate MRI I had involved the lower half of my body being put into a relatively short machine tube and my head was outside. Still might make someone uncomfortable but lots better then being stuck head first into a long tube like I remember years ago.

Glen - You will just have to call around (or work through urologist) and find out who can do prostate MRI’s and what sedation options they have. Hopefully, you can find a place that can give you the same stuff they give for colonoscopies nowadays. You also might find that you cannot do a prostate MRI in an open machine and so on. Of course, you have to see if insurance covers what you need, etc. Anything is possible at different cost levels I suppose.

Based on your last information, it appears that the doctor wants to do a genomic test and a MRI which makes sense to properly consider AS (active surveillance, wait and watch) for your G6. Now is not the time to do another biopsy until the other things are done and some time has passed.

It would seem that you would have all options available to you at this point from AS to surgery so rather than worrying about them, just wait until more information is acquired. AS is nice way to go if you can but it still requires PSA testing, scans, and biopsies as time goes on. You are not “cured”, just watched for any changes for the worse in your lifetime. That can bother some people who prefer to address the cancer and eliminate it vs. living with it. Good luck.

If you are enrolled in a formal AS program, like at Johns Hopkins, Sunnybrook, or MSKCC, you would have an MRI and a confirmatory fusion biopsy within a year of your diagnosing biopsy.

But, it seems that you are looking at RT, and that is fine, especially with six positive cores. Prostate size matters for some treatments, like low dose brachytherapy (seeds) and HIFU, but not with high dose brachy or with any type of external beam RT, such as IMRT, SBRT, or protons.

I hate MRI's, and, at 5'8", I am totally entombed in them. I just close my eyes as they start to move me in, and don't open them until I am all the way back out. Spent an hour doing that last week. No drugs, just will power.

Not sure if I require a new topic but here goes, I am now awaiting a genome test-what kind or any details were not told to me. I had not heard of such a test but figure the doctor knows what he is doing. The results were supposed to be ready a couple of weeks ago but were not so I wait to hear next month (February 6th 2019) I am a little antsy about the wait and a little concerned that he does not want another biopsy in the near future.
Forgive me if I mentioned this before but why give the Gleason score before a genome test? in other words this genome test will show if it is an aggressive type of cancer but I assumed the pathologist had already determined it was not hence the 3/3 Gleason score 6 ??
Maybe too much time on my hands but waiting stinks and I am concerned in particular about my use of testosterone replacement and the fears associated with using TRT (at this point I will not stop the replacement because of how poorly I do when my testosterone is rock bottom-which it always is when not taking shots)
I mean heck if a second biopsy shows a massive change for the worse due to testosterone then yeah I would stop taking shots. Not at all sure that is how it works but the "throwing gasoline on fire" image scares me (not enough to stop at this point.)

Anyway, got back from my 5th injection. I have to take a subway to the Staten Island ferry then a second rail line and 4 block walk but even in today's minus zero wind chill is worth it. My mood, libido and overall sense of wellbeing is much improved.

Hope the new year is bringing health to all here and thanks for the help

Glen AKA "the swan" (got that handle after hearing a cello recital and billypilgram from Slaugherhouse 5 by Vonnegut) at 6 foot and 280 I am more of a bear then swan..but mom gave me the Glen name after her favorite actor, Glen Ford (TMI? lol)

Thanks. I just figured it may be easier in the years to come to do both so there is better information to be offered.

To be fair to my doctor, he tried to explain what he was doing but I was a little confused because I though we'd go right into a second biopsy.

Glen

makes sense thanks

Got the Genome Oncotype DX results and it was very good news
GPS + NCCN Very low risk
Prostate cancer death within 10 years-1%
Metastasis within 10 years 1%
Adverse Pathology 15%
Gleason 3+3
PSA 6 (now it is 3.4)
Clinical stage T1c
I am so happy. I am officially on AS with PSA in 90 days second biopsy in the Fall

Glen (Billypilgram AKA theswan)

Great news!!!

May you be on AS for a long time.

Great news. What was the OncoDX score out of curiosity? I was very low also. Good luck!

My uro was happy with 19. If I recall, he was be more concerned if the number was in around 40 or so. Take it as another good data point.