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From: Coyote on 16 Sep 2008 12:39
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: jloomis on 16 Sep 2008 12:57
I understand the apprehension.
I was wondering why 10 weeks for a biopsy.
Not that you have to have that done immediately but it would be nice to
clear up the question in short time......
Common for no symptoms also.
The Biopsy will hopefully give you the results that will help you out in
either direction.
jloomis

"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: safire on 16 Sep 2008 13:41
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.
From: Coyote on 16 Sep 2008 15:02

"jloomis" <jloomis(a)ocean.net> wrote in message
news:gaooi20o84(a)news5.newsguy.com...

> I was wondering why 10 weeks for a biopsy.


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

To be fair, I have a vacation booked the first week of November so they
scheduled me behind that.

Coyote



From: Heather on 16 Sep 2008 17:49

"Coyote" <Coyoteofthesky(a)aol.com> wrote in message
news:1pTzk.7146$Il.1225(a)newsfe09.iad...
>
> "jloomis" <jloomis(a)ocean.net> wrote in message
> news:gaooi20o84(a)news5.newsguy.com...
>
>> I was wondering why 10 weeks for a biopsy.
>
>
> I live in Canada where social medicine moves at its own pace.
>
> To be fair, I have a vacation booked the first week of November so
> they scheduled me behind that.
>
Hi Coyote.....perhaps you should move to Ontario from Alberta. (G)

My husband had his biopsy in no time flat and we got the results just as
they were shutting the hospitals down due to SARS in March of 2003.
That made it more difficult to get the bone and CT scans quickly, but in
two months he had all the tests, had discussed surgery and radiation
with 3 different doctors and was accepted into a study by 3 months at
Sunnybrooks Regional Cancer Centre.

FWIW.....the biopsy was a pretty simple procedure. Ask them for
freezing, which is probably on the agenda anyway. Ron had the same
firmness you do, but his PSA was double yours. Hindsight is wonderful,
but I could smack the family doctor for ignoring his PSA levels. I
commend your doctor for being decisive about it. Be thankful he is
moving quickly.

Heather


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