As a few of you know from a previous post, I am scheduled for a biopsy on November 22. I like everyone hope they find no cancer, but in the event they do and I elect surgery...how long generally after biopsy can you have the surgery? And, if the cancer is contained in the prostate is a bone scan normal? I had some follow up tests...PSA 3.4, Free PSA 21, and a new PCA Plus test 26.3...normal DRE. I am 57.

Thanks...God bless you all.


Duke

In my case I wanted it done quick - I wanted that out of me ASAP.

I think it was about 5-6 weeks at t between my biopsy and surgery (traditional RRP). I had time to give 2 units of blood that were both used during my procedure, take a work-trip to Washington DC and also take the vacation we had already planned. We left the beach on a Saturday, I did my 'internal cleansing' on Sunday and had the surgery on 7/25/05.

From your numbers it sounds like it was caught very early (if it's there).

God Bless

As it was explained to me, since the biopsy is done through the bowel wall, they require at least 45 days to heal before coming in from the other side for surgery. Good luck to you.

My Uro also said that I'd have to wait a minimum of 6 weeks after the biopsy, to have surgery.
I also had a bone scan and a pelvic scan. Was told that my PSA was so low (1.9), that there are very aggressive cancers which don't generate much PSA. They didn't find anything, but Uro said that nothing would show up unless cancer was quite advanced.
I did have surgery end of April, Gleason 3 + 4 =7, cancer restricted to prostate with no positive margins.
Good luck with the biopsy!

Thanks for input from you all. I just hope if I have cancer it was caught early...I think cancer is my single biggest fear in life.

Keep me in your prayers.

God bless.


Duke

The figures you have mentioned look favourable.
It's unusual to have problems with a bone scan unless PSA is over 20.

John

Thanks for input from you all. I just hope if I have cancer it was caught early...I think cancer is my single biggest fear in life.

Keep me in your prayers.

God bless.
Duke

I can relate - but you can overcome and get through it.

My mother had 8 brothers and sisters. 6 had cancer of various types, and none lived to be 70 but her - and she has bladder cancer now at age 77. My maternal grandmother died before I was born.

My paternal grandmother had 90% of her stomach removed in 1960 due to cancer. She defied the odds at the time and live 30 more years. Her brother died 40 years ago of cancer. My father died of liver cancer 10 years ago at age 68.

I feared it for a long time. I was face-to face with my fear last year when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 48. Like you my numbers were low - PSA of 4.7, free PSA 17%, 2 positive samples of 12 in my biopsy.

I read everything I could get my hands on - especially this board and another one (the google group). I tried to know exactly what was about to happen and the likely outcome (and possible problems) so there would be as little unknown as possible.

Fear loves the unknown. Knowledge overcomes fear.

Focus on the fact that your numbers are very low. If there is cancer your chances for it spreading beyond the capsule and into the margins, vesicles, lymph nodes, vas defrens or elsewhere are low.

Look at it as an opportunity to beat cancer early when it's so very do-able.

Arm yourself with knowledge.

Ask questions to anyone who you think has an answer.

Pray,

God Bless

Good luck with the biopsy. Please have someone go with you.

Once I was diagnosed, it was 5 weeks until surgery. I was 49 - the news came on a Wednesday. I finished the week at work and told my co workers on Friday that I would be gone for 3 months. I took a week just to do some stuff around the house I needed to do - put away, sort, throw away, etc. along with scans, tests, x rays. That felt very good. I called my wife and told her to take a week off. We went to Hilton Head. that was REALLY good.

Week three - I went to see my lawyer, accountant, banker and stockbroker. Made a will - consolidated a lot of accounts. I also went to a lake several times this week and just stared at the water.

Week four - donated blood, ekg - just got myself psyched for what was ahead.

Week five - I drove about 750 miles to spend some time with my daughter.

All the time I was walking and I lost 20 pounds which greatly aided recovery.

Good luck - take time - really take some time - be at peace with yourself and all those around you.

Thanks to all of you that posted info. which was both informative and encouraging. Well I had my biopsy completed the day before Thanksgiving...the Urologist does 18 core biopsy...results came back good...no cancer...he suggested repeat PSA every 6 months.


Thanks for your prayers...hope I can help someone in return.

God Bless

Duke

Thanks to all of you that posted info. which was both informative and encouraging. Well I had my biopsy completed the day before Thanksgiving...the Urologist does 18 core biopsy...results came back good...no cancer...he suggested repeat PSA every 6 months.

Duke

Great news Duke! Congrats and best of health!

I,too, have gone thru all this rigerall and after the final Bone biopsy, we decided no surgery... am now on Hormone Therapy getting a shot of something that I cant even pronounce every three months for the rest of my life. My PSA was 13.5 at the start (July 2002) which started it all. I had never in all my life had a PSA test done. I am 76 years old It happen so fast that I couldn't believe it happened. I have no symptoms whatso ever, no pain, discomfort, nothing..only what the Uro told me. I have been put on a Hornone Therapy program for the rest of my life and need another MRI in the spring to see if anything has happened. You see, there was nothing to base a diognosis on...only the raised PSA figure. I do have postate cancer. so bad that We will not operate. So Be aware that some tests are oversta ted and may lead to further tests to be made. You have done the right thing and I pray that all is well for you. :blob_fire

For me it was thirty days between biopsy that was positive and surgery.Wanted it done and over with as soon as possible.It will be two yrs in Jan 07... PSA was 5.6 Gleason 6

Duke - glad your biopsy didn't show cancer. My husband's uro put off a biopsy for a long time becaue he thought his PSA was just up from a silent prostatitis. He did have cancer, tho. Glad you got it checked out. Hope your PSA's come down and stay down so this isn't always hanging over your head.

Take care,
L&L