Re: Need Biopsy

Ed wrote:
On Mon, 12 Jun 2006 21:55:11 GMT, "Bobcat" <rjshaw7@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

My Urologist just called and stated that my PSA is slughtly elevated and
that I should have a Ultrasound guided biopsy done. Has anyone had this
done? He explained it to me but I was a bit shocked and not much sank in.

I have had Cancer in the past (Malignant melanoma) and felt this should be
done to rule out cancer. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

An elevated PSA can be caused by many things, so don't sweat it too
much. Better have the biopsy done, though, if the uro recommends it.

The procedure is uncomfortable and stings a bit. It feels like someone
using a staple gun on your prostate. Get them to tell you how many
samples they are taking so you can count them down.

The main risks are infection (not that great if you are on cipro) and,
if they make you drink a lot of water, urinary retention (slight, but
if it happens, head for emerg for catheterization).

If the biopsy is positive then you have cancer, but if it is negative,
you can't rule out cancer, because the probes might have missed it.
Ed
-------------------------------
Bobcat,
What was your "slightly elevated" PSA?
Did you have a digital rectal exam (DRE) done?
Was the DRE abnormal? If you had a DRE done, was it done after your
blood was drawn for the PSA test or before?
If DRE is done before blood draw for PSA test, PSA will be artificially

(erroneously) high. If you ejaculated or rode a bicycle within 2 days
of the blood draw, PSA will be artificially high. Example, after
wearing a Foley catheter for 9 days, my PSA was 18, as compared with my

pre-catheterization PSA of 6. A month later, my PSA returned to 6. [I
had been diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) at least a year before my

catheterization.] Any trauma to the prostate, which can be caused by
the previous events, results in a temporary increase in PSA.
Sometimes an elevated PSA can be caused by an inflammation of the
prostate. Taking an antibiotic such as Cipro for 6 weeks could lower
the PSA to a normal level if inflammation elevated it.
Men with large prostates with no PCa will have higher PSAs than men who

have small prostates with no PCa.
If the DRE revealed that your prostate was hard or had some hard spots
(nodules), that would be one finding that would favor having a biopsy.
Consider getting some free guidance by calling the Prostate Cancer
Research Institute Helpline at 1-800-641-7274.
Research has shown that biopsy discomfort/pain is reduced by using a
local anesthetic before the biopsy.
Good Luck,
Lawrence J. Bookbinder (have PCa & BPH)
http://www.ljblgb.com (my BPH story)

.

Relevant Pages