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Is this too long to wait for a biopsy?

Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Nov 24, 2025 | Replies (24)

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@jeffmarc
Jeff Marchi, You commented, “If you live outside the United States, it may be a problem” to get a transperineal biopsy. My urologist here in Panama offered me a transrectal or transperineal fusion biopsy. With my little knowledge of biopsies, I knew the transperennial fusion biopsy was safer and more precise. Told him to go with that, he then said we need to get prior approval from the insurance plan. My reply, my insurance does not require prior approvals on services or medications received outside of the United States, let us go. Within two weeks I had the procedure and 2 weeks later my report of Gleason 4+4 = 8, in 2 of 6 cores, and Cribriform glands in one core. Total cost, a few pennies short of $2,000.
No serious side effects after the procedure.
Panama may be considered third world by some, but it has some good services, but you do need to be selective. Medical appointments can usually be made within 3 weeks, and the appointment lasts as long as necessary without a rush to get you out.

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Replies to "@jeffmarc Jeff Marchi, You commented, “If you live outside the United States, it may be a..."

@overage
That’s great to hear you could get the biopsy. Sorry to hear it was not as minimal a case as you might have hoped for. What treatment have you decided on?

When you mentioned $2,000, you didn’t have to pay that right, Insurance paid it.

I know that people have reported that in some other countries they’re unable to get tests or treatments we get here. He did state he couldn’t get it so that was one consideration.