for my Urologist for when I get my biopsy results (Tuesday 6/21 5 PM).
(again I'm 48, no family history, no symptoms, PSA's of 4.77 and 4.3 w/17% free)

IF it's negative for PC:

I know I want to ask
what are the chances that there is PC and the biopsy didn't find it?
are these chances different for me since my PG was 69.9 cc (when measured during biopsy) and normal is 30 cc or less?
should you do another TRUS biopsy for more samples or a different kind of biopsy (like trans-urethral) to check?
why is my PG that big? BPH?
if BPH is the reason is medication the thing to do for it?
if BPH is the reason what is the liklihood I'll need TURP soon/someday?
what further PC testing is recommended for me? next PSA test when? next biopsy when - or only if PSA rises from current level?
what else should I ask?

If it's positive I'm not sure what to ask.....that's where I could use some help from you guys who've been through positive results and where that leads. What did you ask? What do you wish you'd asked when you first found out?
Thanks in advance

My husband was diagonissed back in 2001, the one thing we should have done was ask for all the new information. Our Doctor did not give us alot of choises, we should have ask about surgury and the other options. Please make sure you know all the options before making a decision.
Ask about surgury, and the side effects of radiation.
Keep track of all your PSA scores they play a very important part of Prostae issues.
Good Luck
Arky

Thanks Arky. I'm wondering about choices also, being here in WV. I am 2 hours from Lexington KY, 3 from Cincinnati, Columbus or Louisville, 4 from Knoxville or Cleveland, or even 5 from Pittsbugh or Nashville. Maybe my choices could include any of those places.

Being 48 from what I've read PG removal is the most likely scenario for me if my biopsy is positive.

Hi James. It varies somewhat for each of us, but if you get a positive pathology report, I would ask for some numbers, especially for various treatment outcomes and, if you go the surgical route, the number of RRPs your doctor has performed and what the results have been in terms of recurrence of cancer, continence, and regaining of sexual function. By the way, you might consider Baltimore in your list of locations for treatment. I went to Johns Hopkins for my RRP and was very pleased with their treatment and care. Wherever you go, it is important to look for a "center of excellence" where they perform a lot of RRPs and have a good track record. From what I learned when I made my decision, Hopkins is one of the best, if not the best, prostate cancer treatment center anywhere. Again, wherever you go, it is worth a little more travel time to you get the best. I should also add that it doesn't appear to cost any more to get the best, if that is a worry for you. At least in my case, insurance covered the majority of the cost and the part I had to pay was manageable.

With such a strong recommendation I'll check it out - if I need it. I would also check out the Cleveland Clinic of course - I think I've seen several success stories with surgeries there on this board.

4 hours from my appointment - I'm trying to keep my breaths deep. I tried to talk about it with my wife at lunchtime and she doesn't want to think about anything further until we know whether there's PC in my biopsy samples or not. I on the other hand have tried to think 2 steps beyond that, since resources like this board are around to find out facts and opinions from those who know best.

I wish you all a good day and hope that you'll hope for the same for me. Either way the biopsy comes out, I'm at peace with the outcome and will just take abother step down whichever road it takes me.....

JamesWv,
Well you are certainly in my thoughts. I applaud your positive thinking! My father seemed to reserve himself to that early on with ihs diagnosis. He would fight whatever they gave him for his test results, so it didn't matter as he said what the results where he was going to "battle this thing". I think that's whats carried him so well so far with his recovery. I wish you the best of luck with your results today. Keep us posted!

My husband was dx in feb. 2002 with a PSA of 6400 off the charts. he was 51. Mandatory testing for men should start at 40! It's not just the medical you need to ask questions about, its also the emotional and mental stress it will put on you and your family. By the time my hubby was dx the cancer had already matastized to his bones. The gave him Caxodex ( a female hormone) to shut is prostate down. Chemical casteration. and Lupron shots every for months, He had gone through surgeries to remove tumors, radiation to nearly every part of his body, mess ups with wrong medications for pain. the depression of losing his ability to preform sexually and having his independence ripped from him. He suffered for 3 years, and spent the last 6 months bedridden and going blind He had a tumor pressing in on his brain.
It was the most heartbreaking 3 years I have ever lived. He passed June 2nd. 2005 I am writting this for the simple reason to get men's attention to take care of themselves. You don't like the test ? get over it! My husband waited to long and paid the ultimate price , death! :angel:

God blees you queenmo1 and comfort you in your recent loss.

I do consider myself very lucky - there was nothing telling me to get a PSA at age 48 other than it was on the list of tests my employer would cover. I have a head start on fighting something that I could easily have not found for 2 more years.

When I was telling me co-workers of my positive biopsy this morning I tried to stress getting a PSA done.

Maybe there should be a baseline PSA done at age 40 and if there's nothing suspicious and no family history not repeating it until 45. With 10% of PC occuring in men <50 there should be something to at least initially screen this population.

Hi James--I was 55 at time of diagnosis--PSA of 6.0. Only one option was discussed with my wife and me initially---surgery including all nerves around the prostate. The diagosing urologist performs about 20 of these type surgeries a year.We thus left thinking no other options existed, thought about it, started researching. Ended up in consultation with an oncologist---he was very helpful talking about seed implants etc but based on my results, encouraged me to go the surgery route for the best possible and long term results. We ended up going to Houston for more consultation with a urologist who is a known specialist in prostate surgery. That is where we had the surgery performed---he used a nerve sparing technique which gave me some retention of quality of life and the results have been excellent--her performs about 300 of these surgeries a year.

dmoudy - thanks again. I don't mean to have 2 threads discussing the same thing, but I mentioned in my post-diagnosis thread that there is a line in my pathology report on one sample saying that perineural involvement is present - so at least that nerve bundle will have to go (or so it seems).