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Re: Rapid Rise In PSA (sould be Unusual Variations in PSA)
Thanks a lot Tim. I appreciate your information about your experience with the biopsy. May I ask why you had another biopsy after 3 months. That's quite an ordeal in itself. I am starting to think that if my urologist doesn't at least use some numbing in the jelly, I will have to consider another urologist. It sounds to me like the biopsy may feel worse than getting radiation to treat PC. Am I totally ignorant here, or simply jumping the gun regarding any discomfort associated with radiation treatment?
Re: Rapid Rise In PSA (sould be Unusual Variations in PSA)
Peter,
If your urologist doesn´t want to give you numbing, he belongs to the ignorant kind. Maybe so ignorant as not to give you antibiotics. So please make sure of that.
Re: Rapid Rise In PSA (sould be Unusual Variations in PSA)
Hi Peter
In reply to why I had 3 biopsies - I had a high PSA and low fPSA ratio - indicating potential cancer - however the pathologists could not diagnose PCa with the 1st 2 biopsies - which were labelled "atypical" the "highly suspicious". Thats the way it is, if the biopsies are not conclusive you will probably be asked to re test.
Having said that my current uro who did the surgery disagreed with that approach - he would have done a saturation biopsy under general, and taken 20 odd cores (vs 6,6 and 8 over my 3 biopsies) probably would have found the cancer a year earlier. The reality is that you take a very small sample size and the cancer is often missed. If I had to choose again I would have done the saturation biopsy 1st off. Needless to say the proceedure in hospital would be more expensive.
Your uro should maybe ultrasound the prostate for size - the bigger, the more samples they may take.
The other consideration is interpreting the biopsy results - often post prostatectomy the pathology is re rated. In my case biopsy found Ca in one lobe, Gleason 3+3 - clinical post was in both lobes, Gleason 3+4
Best wishes, Tim from South Africa
Re: Rapid Rise In PSA (sould be Unusual Variations in PSA)
Hi Peter
I am doing well, thank you - you can read my story at http://www.yananow.net/Mentors/TimG.htm. I will be visiting my specialist tomorrow to get my 1st post op PSA results and discuss penile rehab. I'll update my blog later
