HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Poll of tests taken after your prostate biopsy

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
Tests taken after your prostate biopsy
Full body bone scan - 75.0% - 9 votes
Transrectal MRI - 25.0% - 3 votes
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
1 2
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/28/2007 6:12 PM (GMT -5)
I recall now that my urologist told me that if the Gleason score was 6 or 7 or below, no follow up tests after biopsy were necessary, but a gleason 8 or above indicated a need for more diagnostic information. Mine showed all of my creaky bones and stuff, but no new cancer incursions. the rest is history...I hope...
Posted 4/4/2007 7:15 PM (GMT -5)
From experience and talking to all the docs there is no screening that gives the correct accurate answers. The only way one knows for sure is a biopsy after surgery. I had low PSA, no family history, no symptoms, neg bone and body scan prior to surgery ( The endorectal MRI was somewhat suspicious but not completly accurate ) . However, hopefully in the future they will get better at it. I stillbelieve in doing as many tests in advance as available.Barrister
Posted 4/4/2007 7:45 PM (GMT -5)
We talked to 2 Urologist who both said "further testing was a waste of money". Then we went to an onocologist who happened to treat my father years ago for PCa. He immediately sat up the bone and CT scan's. More for reassurance than anything. He told us that he was currently treating a 40 something year old male who had surgery and found it in his bones following. His words were "if he had known that it was in his bones, surgery would not have been his first route." I trust this doc with all my heart, so Kurt had the tests. I believe, thanks to all here, that we are our own advocates. Don't let the docs say "it is not worth it" or "in your case, you don't need it". We pay for insurance all our lives, use it when you need too. Get the tests done. If only, to relieve yourself. Courtney
Posted 4/4/2007 8:37 PM (GMT -5)
dear courtney

very well said in your previous post!  that is the reason i started this thread (i.e., to express my concern that these tests are often not given and alert PC patients that they should be aware of these tests and insist on getting them if they want them). while we all want to place trust in our doctors, we have to be educated, take charge of our medical treatments in life and very often challenge our doctors and their decisions.  because these two tests are not reliable, many doctors will not have their patients take them.  i don't agree with this at all.  in many cases the tests will reveal important diagnostic information which may be very helpful in treating prostate cancer.  the fact that many top doctors and medical centers use these tests to supplement the biopsy, lends support to their creditability.  let's face it, even the biopsy isn't a perfect test. all the best to you and kurt.

dave

Posted 4/4/2007 8:46 PM (GMT -5)
No other tests after biopsy other than clearance check by family doctor for operation and blood work at pre-op conference.  Scheduled to have DaVinci 4/24/2007

Posted 4/19/2007 9:07 PM (GMT -5)
!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12