Possible Prostate Cancer: Are there side effects of MRI fusion biopsy?
This past November my primary care Dr discover a lump in my prostate during a digital exam. He referred me to a urologist who scheduled an MRI of my prostate which showed a Pi-Rads 3 lesion. In March I am scheduled for an MRI fusion biopsy. I am 69 years old, my PSA is 4 which jumped from 3 within a year. I am not experiencing any real symptoms except having to get up occasionely in the middle of the night to urinate & occasionely feel as though my bladder is not totally empty. I am not in any pain or discomfert. I am in good health otherwise & active. The urologist also diagnosed me with BPH. Are there any side effects of this fusion biopsy that I should be aware of as the urologist was not very forthcoming in explaining this procedure. Any advice would be very much appreciated.
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@colleenyoung ebrt
@forresterra49, welcome. What type of radiation will you be having?
BIOPSY slides; 2nd review AI
Arterra
MRI 2nd review by AI
‘MaleScan’ via precisionprostateconsulting.com
GENOMICS; Decipher
@kpg7121 I had a fusion biopsy in August 2024 and was diagnosed with a HGPIN. Fast forward through a number of diagnostic tests and PSA up to 7.7 last September. Another fusion biopsy in January. Positive for PC; Gleason 3+4, .88 Decipher score. Starting ADT next week and radiation in June. Good luck to you.
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3 Reactions@heavyphil Thanks so much!
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1 Reaction@kpg7121 Great news- take the W!
Phil
Well, I received my biopsy results today posted on the Urologist's patient portal. Good news. Twelve cores were taken, all benign. However, one core from the left lateral mid zone was tagged as HGPIN. I'm assuming that core was collected from the nodule. My online research found that the area will need further surveillance in case anything changes. The cores will now be sent to CONFIRM MDx to evaluate for false negatives. Fingets crossed. I have to meet with my Urologist on 4/9 for further discussion, so we shall see.
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4 ReactionsTR Biopsy scheduled for today went on as scheduled. Urologist too 14 cores 2 on the nodule & the procedure took about 30 minutes. Another area of interest on prostate was between the apex & the base according to the report posted on MyChart. Not sure what that means. The procedure lierally kicked my butt with a shot of penicillin in the beginning which was sore for a good 4 hours. Other then that I felt little discomfert except a slight twinge as he took each core. The 50 mi. ride home was a different story. Halfway home I started to feel nauseous & light headed to the point I thought I might pass out, but recovered a little with breaths of fresh air. Got home & immediately crashed on the sofa. Feeling better now, passed water 3 times, twice with blood, last time clear. Urologist wants me drink 2 liters of water per day till Friday, antibiotics finish up tomorrow.
The urologist was great, he explained the procedure & what was happpening during it. Now, it's a waiting game for results to come in.
I would recommend to anyone who has this done to have a driver if you need to drive any distance. If the wife wasen't driving, I don't think I would have made it home in one piece.
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1 Reaction@tdgillett Thank you. I believe that I'm getting local anesthesia which makes me wonder why I won't be allowed to drive home unless they're thinking I'll be too uncomfortable to do it. Tomorrow I have that telemed visit with aomeone from the office & I'll be asking what the plan is. This stuff is all new to me, I'm 69 & never been sick a day in my life other then the usual flu/ cold along with a mild csse of Covid. Only been hospitalized twice for a brief stay due to a MVA & a busted up ankle that required surgery.
@kpg7121 Good to have the biopsy. Your BPH may be responsible for the slight increase in your PSA. A guided biopsy will give your urologist and you lots of useful information. There's also several good on-line explanations of the fusion biopsy process. From this forum, you'll read that some of us have the biopsy with local anesthetic (usually lidocaine) and some have a general anesthetic. Good discussion to have with your urologist. I've had local anesthesia for both of my biopsies and definitely prefer that to general anesthesia. At age 79, the fewer times I have anesthesia, the better. Drove myself home both times. Minimal discomfort afterwards. Waiting for the results causes anxiety--it takes them about 2 weeks here. Good luck on March 9.
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