Noob with concerns & questions

The power of the internet! I found this site through a golf forum from a guy in Australia (I live in the Texas).

My story,

I'm 57 in generally good health with no family history of PC. During a recent insurance med exam, I learned I had a PSA number of 14.6. Called my uro (I have been treated for BHP with a "naturally" large prostate). To make an appointment. When they heard my number, they wanted to see me right away. The doc did a digital exam and said he didn't feel anything to cause concern. However, my prostate is so large he couldn't get his finger completely over the top to check it all.

His recommendation was to wait two weeks and do another PSA test. If my number dropped, he'd just do a sonogram. If it stayed the same or went up, he wanted to do a biopsy. The second test was done in a different lab but the number went up to 15.4. Odly enough, no previous doctor had ordered a baseline PSA, so we don't know what is normal for me.

My reason for posting here is to ask the opinions of y'all on the biopsy. I've read enough about the discomfort (I'm a wuss on these things) and possible side effects. I am wondering why we haven't done a "free PSA" test before doing a biopsy.

Does that make sense or am I just letting my desire for the avoidance of pain overrule common sense? I would appreciate any comments and advise.

Thanks in advance.

Better heads than mine will chime in on all of your questions, but I wanted to tell you you'd have a hard time beating me out for the title Wuss Of The Year --- and I thought the biopsy was a piece of cake. Oh sure, some discomfort, and you do have to have a sense of humor about the whole thing but it was less stressful than having my teeth cleaned. Really.

Would I choose a biopsy over teeth cleaning? No. But if it could be done, clothes on, yes. Hope this helps.

Sheldon AKA Sleepless

The free PSA test might provide some helpful information but your case screams Biopsy! Also, backstage, your insurance company may balk about paying for things that they consider to be outside "standard procedure" but I don't think a PSA3 test would be rejected..

The biopsy is unpleasant to be sure, but it's over in 15 minutes so you just man up and say "I can do ANYTHING for 15 minutes"! That way you KNOW what is going on, or I should say you are 90% sure. If the biopsy is positive for cancer, then you are 100% sure and that's the ONLY way to be sure...

You can have the biopsy done under anesthesia if need be. This way, you won't feel a thing. Many people request the anesthesia.

Zimac

I'll say this about the biopsy: It was annoying, embarrassing and undignified but I had no pain - just a lot of people looking at my naked backside. Tell the doc your concerns - they have ways to help you through.

Ask for the free PSA test but go ahead and schedule the biopsy. If you doc is anything like mine, it will be a couple of weeks before they can schedule the procedure.

Hang in there, you'll do just fine.

oscar, welcome to HW PC, sorry you needed to find us, but glad you did.

with what you wrote, i would go for the biopsy at this point, its a good way to rule out PC at this point (though not a guarantee).

it took 3 biopsies for me spread over 18 months to pick up the prostate cancer in me, and when they found it, wow, it was there strongly.

as far as the biopsies go, they range from a piece of cake, no problems, all the way to "i wish they had knocked me out". side effects can be creepy, i.e. blood in the semen, etc, but most men get through it fine. i found them to be more humiliating than hurting. i had 2 without any pain med, and 1 with pain med. the one with pain med hurt me more than the 2 without, we are all different.

good luck as you move ahead, and hopefully, you wont need to be a perm. member here, just a visitor would be better.

david in sc

My experience was like that of JoeFL: the biopsy was uncomfortable, but not painful.

I second the recommendation to have them give you something to relax and take the edge off the discomfort. Also, have them give you some extra strength Tylenol before you leave the office, because the soreness will kick in within a half-hour. I remember a very uncomfortable ride home. You'll be sore as hell for a couple days, but nothing the Tylenol can't handle.

All in all, not my favorite way to spend a morning, but it's definitely tolerable. Be brave!

Thanks to all! I feel MUCH better knowing I'm not the first to go through this. The biopsy is for tomorrow afternoon. My doc gave a a scipt for valum. When I was in there the last time, my BP spiked to 200/115 so hopefully the meds will take the edge off and I can relax.

Can't wait to give myself an enema

I had the biopsy today. First off, let me offer a sincere thank you to all who offered advise and encouragement. It made things a LOT easier.

Turns out my uro is a Zen Master of biopsies. He talked to me and said with my numbers a biopsy was called for. Then he got me in the position and made a few jokes to ease my nerves.

He marveled at the size of my prostate as evidenced by the sonogram. He estimated it to be the size of a tennis ball! Looking at the sonogram, he said it looked so normal that he was only going to take 8 samples.

He numbed me up and I barely felt a thing. Then he explained about the "gun" and pulled the trigger to let me know how it would sound. As he took each sample, again, I barely felt a thing.

In about 10 minutes, it was over and I was on my way home! I should get the results in about a week but he said he'd be shocked if it came back positive. So some encouraging news to make the wait a little less nerve wracking.

Thanks again to all. I'll check back when I get the results.

Post Edited (oscar_bravo) : 6/5/2012 8:17:10 PM (GMT-6)

Oscar,

As Purg said above, be aware of some bloody semem for a while. It would have totally freaked me out if I had not known to look for it.

Glad you had the biopsy done. I hope your results a negative and you won't need to be here anymore!

Good luck.

Oscar please please go for the biopsy. It is a breeze. I had mine done in the Drs office 10 days before Christmas and there was very little discomfort. I went away for Christmas so I did not get the results until January 11th. I had the surgery on May 31 and I am home recuperating. Whatever your choice, you will be fine. Have no fear