Question about biopsy ...

When I had my biopsy, the MD was going to initially do 12. He stopped at 10 because he felt positive of what the results would be. 3 out of my 10 were positive. When I had surgery 6 weeks ago, the margins were clean and the lymph nodes were negative. I'm not sure that there is a total correlation between the number and the final results (but there is some).

The biopsy results generally only indicate that cancer is present and the aggressiveness of the cancer. It cannot indicate conclusively to what extent the prostate gland is cancerous. Certainly the more samples that indicate cancer and a higher percentage of cancer within these samples would suggest the degree of cancer within the gland. I do not believe though that your husband's 3 out of 10 with high percentages in those three would suggest that his prostate is more cancerous then the 1 out of 10 with a 40% cancer in the one that was my case. Some prostate cancer is multi focal or more then one tumor and the biopsy may hit more due to this situation then it would with a single tumor. Since you chose Brachytherapy your only measure of the success of treatment will be the PSA's over the next several years. I would not worry any more about the biopsy and would not consider it to have any implications on the success of the treatment you chose.

Tamu

Hi,

I guess no matter how much they find it's still cancer, whether it's one core or 5 positive, they apparently still act on it.  My husbands original biopsy showed a higher gleason score and percentages.  The Final surgery path report showed a lower gleason score and only 5% containment.  We're not going to argue with that.. lower is better!  The reports were taken at different hospitals, thus different individuals.  We sure are at their mercy to report to us the correct findings. 

Marie