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Need advice whether or not to have a biopsy

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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 9/28/2006 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
I am looking for some advice.  I am 51 years old and have no history of PC in my family at all.  7 years ago I took the PSA exam and it was 1.9  with a free of .3

In Mid July of this year the PSA was 3.8 with a free of .65

My GP sent me to a urologist.  Two weeks later he took another PSA test and it dropped to 3.2 with a free of .6  

He also gave me a DRE and found a healthy prostate. 

He told me to wait 6 weeks and come back.  6 weeks later I took another PSA and it was 3.1 with a free of .6.  Again the DRE found a healthy prostate.  To my surprise he recommended a biopsy. Now for the last week  I have been fighting myself on what to do. 

Since this is all new to me I was wondering if anyone had any similiar experiences and what would you guys do

I am also live in the NYC area and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a doctor I can go to that really knows there stuff.

Thanks,

Joe  

Posted 9/28/2006 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
The biopsy will show whether or not you have cancer. It is necessary.
Posted 9/28/2006 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Joe,

I agree. If you are concerned about your !st PSA of 3.8, and it sounds like maybe you are; then a biopsy can help you sleep better not having to worry. My PSA jumped from 2.1 to 3.8 in 14 months, with nothing suspicious from the DRE. I had the biopsy as recomended by my urologist, and it caught 2 of 14 cores positive 10% Gleason 6 (3+3). You have to be safe, and trust the urologist's recommendation.

Good luck to you,

Glen
Posted 9/29/2006 12:19 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Joe101,

Another vote here for the biopsy.  PC is nothing to fool around with and the sooner it is found the better chance for a cure.  If there is any questions at all in your mind, you should do it for your own peace of mind.  Just my two cents worth!

Good Luck to you,

Posted 9/29/2006 10:15 AM (GMT 0)
With your free PSA that low get the biopsy. The discomfort is well worth piece of mind.

Jim
Posted 9/29/2006 11:49 AM (GMT 0)
Joe, I echo others here. get a biopsy. my husband had no symptoms and the DRE showed nothing either. it was a little uncomfortable but necessary. we live in DC so I can't help you with a recommendation. best wishes and keep us updated. kat
Posted 9/29/2006 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Had read that most patients with PC have free PSA less than 15%
Posted 9/29/2006 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
Do the biospy it is mildly uncomfortable very mild procedure. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Do not chase PSA numbers. The only sure way to know if cancer is there is a biposy. You will be gald you did if it is there or not. I had no symtoms and no history of PC in my family but lucky I found it early when getting a blood test for life insurance the PSA was 4.3. I am 57 years old and having the Da Vinci robot on 10/12/06. NOW YOU GO AND GET A BIOPSY! 

 

Posted 9/29/2006 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
Pleeze xkuse my spellin i am a victim of 9th grade typing class one term. Spent to much time looking at the sexy teacher in 1964  NOW YOU GO AND GET YURSELF THAT THER BIOPSY

Posted 9/29/2006 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
Joe,

I echo getting the biopsy...although at the time I didn't think he needed it cause his PSA was not high and his prostate felt normal, but lo an behold after 13 biopsys he had two with cancer.  We would have never found it for years if the doctor hadn't wanted him to get it checked because his PSA had gone up a bit each year.

He said there was no pain..a bit uncomfortable with the probe in, but with the numbing gel and shot he said it felt like a slight tap when a biospy was taken is all.

Posted 9/29/2006 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
Things look positive from the fPSA test result. Get a second opinion. What's the size of your prostate? May have something to do with the PSA.

 

Posted 2/1/2013 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
I am 52 and had a similar experience. Went for annual physical and had a psa of 4.1. Normal for our age is 2.5-3.5, but one school of thought says anything over 2.5 should be dealt with. Doc said he would recheck in 3 mos., which is a reasonable clinical approach since PC is a slow growing cancer in most cases. However, when I looked back on past few yrs, my psa had gone from 1.4 to 4.1 in less than 5 yrs. At that point, the acceleration of the values concerned me most. A lot of research later I opted for biopsy - I'm not one to not know AND catching any cancer early is the way to go. Short story is I was positive for PC with 5 of 11 cores positive, gleason 6 and t1c staging. Had robotic surgery on 1/16 with one of the best surgeons in country at the best cancer hospital in us (md anderson) and am cancer free.

This DOES NOT means YOU have cancer. It just means only definitive way to know is biopsy, which I dreaded for over a month. Just the thought of anal probe and punch biopsy freaked me out. Bottom (pun intended!) biopsy not bad at all. With local anesthesia, really no worse than rectal exam w no anesthesia.

The other issue is that if you are 75, you may die of old age before slow PC kills you. At our age, if you have PC, you won't die of old age and it will not go away or get better. Get piece of mind w a biopsy. If negative, life goes on- if positive, deal with it and life goes on.

Good luck - it is your decision. Make it and feel good about it and don't worry yourself sick - not worth it.
Posted 2/1/2013 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with all the above advice, Get a biopsy. Good Luck. I had a rising PSA and it led me to get my biopsy and probably saved my life. I had a "healthy prostate" per the DRE, but a Gleason 8 was really what I had. Aggressive prostate cancer tends to generate less PSA.

Regards,
Kris
Posted 2/1/2013 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
***NOTE***
This thread is from Posted 9/28/2006
Posted 2/1/2013 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
For those of you on pins and needles, Joe had that biopsy, came back once to complain about blood in his urine (from the biopsy) and hasn't posted again in seven years. My guess is it was negative.
Posted 2/2/2013 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
He's now living the good life in the San Fernando Valley.
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