Prostate biopsy
age 81 high PSA should I have a prostate biopsy l don’t think I won’t one
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.
age 81 high PSA should I have a prostate biopsy l don’t think I won’t one
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.
Exactly. Without an MRI first, they're pretty much stabbing blind.
A guided biopsy (my understanding, from what I had) is an MRI scan first, to identify the size & location of any suspicious lesion(s).
During the biopsy, they overlay the MRI scan with the live ultrasound, so they can target the areas of concern.
Once they've divided up the area into squares & know what parts they want samples from, they just sit there & play Battleship with your prostate.
You sure it was a doctor & not some biopsy salesman or something?
* Edited to say... the biopsy may not be as painful as you're imagining. For me, it was more a dull discomfort.
Also, the biopsy is the definitive way to identify any cancer there, so if you want peace of mind, it's probably worth it.
An MRI is definitely becoming more common before a biopsy.
Sounds like an old fashioned urologist planning a trans-rectal biopsy; there’s a higher risk of infection with these and many times they MISS areas of the gland that have cancer.
May I suggest a different urologist?
vtduckman1,
it is reasonable to decline the biopsy. Except: It is only a 15 to 30 minute procedure with local anesthesia; it is better not to die of untreated prostate cancer because it can be painful and uncomfortable-- it can spread through your body breaking bones and playing havoc with your thoughts; it might be a fairly easy remedy; you won't be able to refuse treatement if you aren't offered any; you'll have to change your pseudonym to vtostrichman.
Personal agency makes it perfectly honerable to decline the biopsy. Nothing makes it wise.
Bless your choice with the wisdom of the ages.
Has anyone not done the prostate biopsy
I’m 81
Can I ask why the reluctance to do the biopsy?
Many of us have been through it, so can give our open & honest experience. We're all guys here (mostly).
Is it a pain thing? A dignity thing? (having a strange doctor walk in when I've already got my feet in stirrups, displaying things no-one wants to not look at was interesting...)
It's pretty much painless & my urologist was awesome. He kept me distracted with in-depth discussions about old arcade machines while he was poking around. Time flew by.
And like every other procedure we go through... it's literally just a day at the office for him.
Trust me go ahead and doit if it wasn’t for an mri follow by a biopsy I be dead today. Doing them save me they found cancer and I chose robotic surgery and so far I am fine and doing well…Biopsy is not a painful procedure because you are under anesthesia is a 20 minutes procedure and surely save your life.
vtduckman1,
ask your doctor to order a PSE. (thanks@bens10) https://www.94percent.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAhP67BhAVEiwA2E_9gxGb_zrjyZ4WCAg4HKZYds8xK9bKPGnNMRqbZpoBWvmduBf9EmLZBBoCpQIQAvD_BwE
Is your general practitioner responding to the elevated PSA with a discouraging biopsy answer?
Cancer isn't the only cause of raised PSA. Only after an MRI outlines tumors would you want to consider biopsy. How high is your PSA
Had a guy in Tuesday nights ancan.org Meeting that had not had a biopsy. As a result, he had no Gleason score. He did have metastasis around his body And an MRI showed it as did a PSMA pet scan.