Prostate biopsy

That's completely understandable! How important a biopsy is at ths point is truly up to you!
There are so many factors that go into a decision like this.
Best of luck to you going forward!

If you do decide to have a biopsy, others have reported here that trans-perineal biopsies have a much lower risk of infection that the traditional trans-rectal ones.

@vtduckman1
You will see that we can offer our personal experience but cannot guide you what to do medically. You have to make your medical decision based on your medical and mental health information and consultations with your doctors.

You don't mention how high your PSA is. Many things can cause a high PSA and not have cancer. Are you seeing a urologist? If you are what do they say. That would be your first step to discuss with urologist.

You are 81. I was 76 when I got my biopsies. I did not have a high PSA number it was still under normal level. However I did have continuouls rising PSA numbers over the years and my PCP did not like it and referred me to Mayo urologist. He did not like the rising numbers either and ordered a MRI with contrast. Have you been to a urolgist and a DRE.?

Have any of your doctors mentioned doing or the need to do a MRI to you? That was my first step my medical team did after PSA rising numbers again under normal number. That would give your medical team a better idea of how your prostate looks long before biopsies.

At 81 and like most of us getting on with age a rising PSA number does not mean cancer. It can have many causes and for me after mine kept rising but still normal level my PCP referred me to urologist. My urologist did a detailed medical exam (I use initials DME) that included gential, testicals, seminal vessels, scotrun, and a DRE. All were normal but he ordered MRI with contrast. That MRI revealed suspicisous areas. Urologist then recommended doing biopsies which came back prostate cancer but low risk and caught early per my urologist and R/Os.

I hope that helped you but please talk to your doctors about additional tests and things you need to or can do prior to having biopsies.

You can certainly decide to not have a biopsy. Work with your Dr. to determine options for treating your PSA and/or Prostate cancer.

I saw a. Urologist he said it was up to me i asked what he thought next thing he made a appointment that was it

At your age lm personally against it, 16 years ago was my first biopsy, it took 4 more biopsies before they found the cancer, one almost killed me from infection. If you are still sexually active that’s another thing you have to think about. I would weigh it out carefully good luck my friend

Perhaps it depends on your level of fear or if you have just resigned yourself to dying at a particular age…

I'm 84 and and scheduled for a biopsy 21 Jan. The MRI I had showed 2 lesions, one a Pi Rads 5. I think a biopsy is critical now to determine aggressiveness if it is cancer (and I'm sure it is). I don't want to live out my next 10-15 years (I'm otherwise very healthy) wondering about mets each time I have a backache or other pain. It would become the elephant in the room.
Good luck with your decision. I understand not wanting a biopsy. I'm not looking forward to it but ....

Sure would be nice to know what your PSA is.

You could have BPH and then that case it seems that they give you an antibiotic. Has your urologist totally excluded BPH from the diagnosis?

To avoid infection that a transperineal biopsy.

Dr want to do a prostate biopsy why not a MIR first