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From: I.P. Freely on 16 Sep 2008 17:51
For most men, a (drug-free except for a topical gel) prostate biopsy is
less traumatic -- and far more informative -- than a pizza burn on your
gums. You notice it at the time (unless you're reading a really good
book), it bothers you for a day or two if you abuse it, but in the grand
scheme of irritants it falls well below a lousy movie and takes much
less time. Take a good book and git 'er done. As my urologist expected,
my biopsy hurt less than a routine professional teeth cleaning.

A very small percentage of men actually perceive some pain with each
needle jab, unexplained by our colon's absence of nerves that can
perceive a needle or scalpel.

How about it, punk ... do ya feel lucky? ;-)
If not, feel free to knock yourself out and risk its side effects.

I.P.
From: len on 17 Sep 2008 00:42
On Sep 16, 12:41 pm, safire <saf...(a)telenet.com> wrote:
> Coyote wrote:
> > I am a 55 year old white male in reasonably good health. During a routine
> > medical examination my family doctor discovered that my prostate was "bulky"
> > and subsequently ordered a PSA test.
>
> > The PSA returned a score of 5.5, and so I was referred to a urologist. The
> > urologist said that I have a "firm area but not rock hard," on the left side
> > of my prostate. He went on to explain that 80% of men with this type of
> > prostate have no problems, but one in five, the remaining 20%, develop
> > prostate cancer.
>
> > At this time I exhibit no symptoms whatsoever and as far as I know prostate
> > cancer is not an issue in my family history.
>
> > The urologist has arranged for me to have a prostate biopsy in about ten
> > weeks, with a follow up appointment two weeks after that to discuss the
> > results.
>
> > While I know what the urologist is doing is due diligence, and that the
> > chances of a negative result are very good, I am still apprehensive.
>
> > Any comments?
>
> > Coyote
>
> The urologist should also have told you that not all patients diagnosed
> with PCa need to be treated (with prostatectomy, radiation or
> otherwise). There is a lot of overtreatment of PCa in the U.S. Treatment
> does not guarantee that the cancer will be gone and exposes you to the
> substantial risk of impotence (and the smaller risk of incontinence).
> Take the 10 weeks to read about these risks, about new treatment methods
> (such as so-called robotic prostatectomy) and to do your own due
> diligence. Read about "watchful waiting". Note that the majority of
> posters in this newsgroup is biased; they cannot accept that you just
> accept the presence of an indolent cancer or that their own decision was
> wrong.

One thing to keep in mind is that a lot about prostate cancer is age
dependent. Aggressive treatment which might not be appropriate for a
75 year old man might be a reasonable choice for a 55 year old man.
Also, the chances of impotence is usually much lower for younger men
than for older men. The advice to read up on the subject is wise,
but don't take any specific recommendations as those in the above
posting as gospel. I like Peter Scardino's book The Prostate.
Scardino is a surgeon but he also is recognized as a leading
researcher in prostate cancer. I think he provides a balanced
treatment of different treatment options.
From: Coyote on 18 Sep 2008 11:46
I appreciate the comments, each was thoughtful and helpful to me.

It has always been my experience that the more you learn about something,
the less frightening and stressful it becomes.

I will continue to read this NG and will advise of my status when I get my
biopsy results in December.

Thanks,

Coyote




From: Steve Kramer on 19 Sep 2008 15:22
IMHO, your doc is doing exactly as he should, except that I would not wait
10 weeks. Based solely on your age, PSA, and DRE results, I'd say your
chance of cancer is slightly higher than 20%; but probably not as high as
50%.

"Coyote" <Coyoteofthesky(a)aol.com> wrote in message
news:tjRzk.9833$PK.2226(a)newsfe04.iad...
>I am a 55 year old white male in reasonably good health. During a routine
>medical examination my family doctor discovered that my prostate was
>"bulky" and subsequently ordered a PSA test.
>
> The PSA returned a score of 5.5, and so I was referred to a urologist. The
> urologist said that I have a "firm area but not rock hard," on the left
> side of my prostate. He went on to explain that 80% of men with this type
> of prostate have no problems, but one in five, the remaining 20%, develop
> prostate cancer.
>
> At this time I exhibit no symptoms whatsoever and as far as I know
> prostate cancer is not an issue in my family history.
>
> The urologist has arranged for me to have a prostate biopsy in about ten
> weeks, with a follow up appointment two weeks after that to discuss the
> results.
>
> While I know what the urologist is doing is due diligence, and that the
> chances of a negative result are very good, I am still apprehensive.
>
> Any comments?
>
> Coyote
>
>


From: Steve Kramer on 19 Sep 2008 15:25

> I live in Canada where social medicine moves at its own pace.

I am sorry.


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