I had my annual checkup with my local urologist. He found no change in the DRE. My PSA result was 2.8, still slightly above where it was a year ago but not a very big change. My local urologist believes there is no need for another biopsy at this time but suggested blood tests for [...]
I got the results of a recent blood test from my primary physician. My PSA is still rising, now up to 2.9. This was the same lab that measured a 2.4 just under a year ago. Subject to day-to-day variations, this isn’t an alarming increase, but it still isn’t a good sign, either. Generally, an [...]
If you’ve been recently diagnosed with an elevated or abmormal PSA level, there’s a lot of information here for you. I’m not a doctor, nor do I have any medical training. I do know how to use Google, so there are plenty of links where you can educate yourself. That way, you know what to ask your doctor [...]
This will be my last blog for a while. I’ll make sporadic updates, mostly if I have a checkup or want to post about a news story or something related to prostate health. There’s one question I can now answer, but only for myself. Was it necessary? Was it all worth it? Outside the standard tests that [...]
Maybe you’re like me. You have some indications like a high PSA level, but your biopsy is negative and you have no physical symptoms. Maybe you’re in a high risk group or just a health nut. Is there anything you can do to prevent prostate cancer from starting? I have searched a lot for alternatives to [...]
While waiting for my biopsy results, I did scare myself by doing a bit of research on treatments. Many alternatives exist. The most proven one is an open radical prostatectomy or RP. In the hands of a very experienced surgeon, this method has the best long term cure rates and among the best success rates for [...]
It’s now three weeks since my biopsy and I’m pretty much back to normal. All of the annoying side effects are finally gone. I am really not looking forward to ever having another biopsy. It wasn’t horrible, but definitely not something I wish to repeat. In other recent news:
From the New York Times-
The PSA blood [...]
A biopsy can’t rule out prostate cancer. Some men have 2, 3 or even more biopsies before they finally detect cancer. Sometimes, they just miss it, because the major flaw inherent in using a biopsy to search for cancer is that it only samples a very small percentage of the prostate tissue. It’s also possible that there was no cancer [...]
Great news! My biopsy was negative for cancer. I’m also very glad it only took a little over a week, as I was told it could take 2-3 weeks. The waiting is not fun; it’s on your mind very frequently. Now, I get to put it out of my head for at least 6 months [...]
After I got home from my trip to the NIH, I faxed in the form needed to get a copy of my MRI results. Three business days later, I received a packet in the mail with a paper copy of my MRI report, X-ray report, blood tests, urine tests and other lab results (the biopsy pathology report [...]
You’ll probably get a care sheet from your urologist. Maybe you found a website with a list of possible side effects on the internet. Beyond that, there aren’t a lot of reports with personal experiences from a prostate biopsy. Probably for obvious reasons. Most guys don’t want to talk about it. Some are just too tough or too cool [...]
The prostate MRI like the one I had is not unique. I mentioned in an earlier blog that a urologist in Florida does 3T MRI screenings for a fee, some of which is paid by insurance. This is also an area with clinical research, such as the study I entered at the NIH. I was told that I [...]
My TRUS/MRI fusion biopsy is now over and the joy of waiting 2-3 weeks for the pathology results begins. The good news is that Dr. Pinto thought it was very unlikely there would be any findings, given all my results so far. In addition, he said they were unable to reproduce the dark (hypoechoic) region that [...]
From the beginning, the pretense of my blog has been that many biopsies are probably unnecessary, given the sheer number that are done (about a million a year) and the large percentage that turn up negative. I didn’t have any “smoking gun” that indicated I was at risk, other than a PSA level that was somewhat high for [...]
I have a summary of results from my 3 Tesla high resolution MRI, given to me by one of Dr. Pinto’s associates. I am told this included a T2-weighted (T2W) 3T MRI scan. If I understood correctly, they also took scans with spectroscopy (MRIS) and then with diffusion weighting (DWI) as well and finished with contrast [...]
Despite nearly being stuck at O’Hare airport in Chicago due to thunderstorms, my flight managed to depart for Reagan Washington National. For anyone looking for a hotel near the NIH, I’m staying at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda until I’m admitted on Sunday. The Hyatt is very conveniently located right atop a metro station. One transfer [...]
I don’t plan to be racing anytime soon in order to raise funds for worthy charities related to supporting prostate cancer research. Instead, I’d like to give credit to another Darren who is my age and is now racing for a cure:
http://darrenritch.blogspot.com/2009/02/help-me-make-difference.html
If you are considering a charitible contribution for medical research, please take a look. [...]
$950 later, I finally got a whopping five ultrasound images. This was from my prostate ultrasound test in New York City last month by Dr. Robert Bard. The lure of the “3-D/4-D” power doppler sonogram was the promise of hundreds or thousands of color enhanced images that could be turned into a three dimensional view that would also show motion in [...]
It’s OK to be fearful of an invasive procedure. A little fear can lead to a second opinion, maybe a better one. On the other hand, a little fear shouldn’t keep you from getting checked at all. Since I have no medical training, I can’t give specific advice on what someone else should do, once [...]
The time and expense involved in having all these tests may seem like a lot of effort in order to avoid a biopsy. Based on what I’ve learned so far, an invasive “random” biopsy (with its associated risks) still doesn’t seem like the best course of action for me, given my results so far. Alone, PSA levels, DRE, [...]
I was a bit discouraged about the cost of having a new, high resolution prostate MRI. $5000 is a lot of money, especially in the current economy where it could pay bills for a couple months, as layoffs are looming everywhere. There had to be something similar and less expensive in the Chicago area. With [...]
My philosophy is that you should always seek a second opinion if it involves major surgery, maybe a third one if the first two opinions disagree or if it’s something life threatening, like cancer. I did this for a reconstructive knee surgery back in 1994. I ended up seeing one of the premier orthopedic surgeons in [...]
Last night, I had a telephone consultation with a physician I mentioned previously. He was very skeptical of my ultrasound results, having concerns with both the physician and the claimed sensitivity of the test. He believes that based on a current consensus of experts, this ultrasound technology alone is only around 20% likely to detect [...]
I had my ultrasound yesterday. I flew to New York City to get it. The only physican that I could find who was closer and used similar technology for my situation was near Detroit, but they wanted to do a biopsy at the same time. There are a number of other places doing these sonograms across [...]
Tests like the PCA3, Power Doppler Ultrasound and 3T MRI are all very promising and based on a lot of research. There are a few other tests I’ve found that might be of interest. I haven’t found much research on them, and they are probably not yet available in the USA outside of trials or studies.
http://proactivegenomics.com/
http://www.diapat.com/diapatpcms/cmsengl/front_content.php?idcat=274
http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/prostate_disorders/JohnsHopkinsProstateDisordersHealthAlert_1023-1.html
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1475992
http://www.clarientinc.com/Default.aspx?tabid=403 (post biopsy [...]
Last week I mentioned my PCA test results. Here is a copy of the report from Bostwick Laboratories.
I have not yet been able to find a “calculator” that gives you a risk based on your PCA3 score, as there are for PSA levels. I have found some interesting webpages and studies about results that may [...]
Here are a few websites that have helped me. I’ve added them to my blogroll links and hope they might help you, too:
http://www.prostate-cancer.org/
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate
http://www.ustoo.com
http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org
There are also a number of smaller blogs (like mine) and personal webpages about prostate health issues that you can find on Google. One in particular is about a man who learned he had [...]
I have become more concerned about having a biopsy, given the alternatives I have found, like PCA3 and ultrasound. I continue my search for information and options. I found a couple websites where I was able to contact other urologists, who basically shared the same view. One suggested I might consider an extended course of antibiotics [...]
The results of my PCA3 Plus test have at least given me some confidence that I have a little time to fully research my options before I undergo an invasive procedure like a biopsy.
Newer ultrasound technology is another step that can be done before a prostate biopsy. Like the PCA3 test, it’s not yet widely accepted as a substitute for [...]
I played phone tag with my urologist’s office for a while, after I discovered the PCA3 test though a Google search. I had already verified that a number of labs did this newer test in the USA. It shocked me a little bit that my urologist hadn’t even mentioned it when I asked about alternative testing before a [...]
I mentioned that my urologist also wanted to make sure that the traces of blood in my urine weren’t due to some other urinary problem. So, I had an ultrasound of the kidneys to check for tumors and stones and possibly other issues. My results were negative. The only unusual item was a small cyst [...]
Yesterday, I discussed some of the various unpleasantries involving a prostate biopsy.
If that wasn’t unpleasant enough, here’s the kicker. Unlike other cancers, you don’t get a ”Yes or No” (malignant or benign) diagnosis from a prostate biopsy. You see, with most cancer, a tumor is found by hand, CT scan, MRI or other diagnostic. Then, a biopsy [...]
I was a bit freaked out the day I heard about the various cancers I might have and the biopsy that may be to come. Of course, I turned to Google for answers. It’s has been a great help, but also a big curse. What I’ve learned is a bit surprising.
To most urologists, a prostate biopsy is [...]
I already had a urologist. I had a vasectomy back in 2005. I had another in early 2008. Yup, I was very fertile, so I needed two. I guess they don’t always work. My first one was a Vasclip procedure. It was marketed as being less painful, with a quicker recovery, fewer side effects and similar [...]
I’m already a couple months into my adventure with prostate health, but it began well over a year ago. Back in late 2007, I had a routine physical at my wife’s urging. I wasn’t quite 40 at the time. I had no health issues or symptoms at all, other than some lab results… My urine [...]
This is my personal blog about prostate health, with an initial emphasis on biopsies. It is a journal of my adventures from learning I had a high PSA level, to having various tests and procedures. Do I really need a prostate biopsy? Are there any options or alternatives to a prostate biopsy? I hope to answer these questions [...]