Just had a prostate biopsy. It was the second one in eight months because of a PSA test. I doubt I will have another unless it absolutely is through the roof. I have chronic sinus infections and am convinced that it throws my PSA levels off.
The good news is that I have no problem whatsoever other than “chronic inflamation.” But no cancer, and for that I’m grateful, and my wife and I enjoyed a bottle of champagne followed by a bottle of wine tonight!
BUT, my biopsy was done on Jan. 26. The pathology report says it was completed on Jan. 27. My “follow-up” appointment was today, February 1, at which time I was given the good news that I had nothing to worry about. Why couldn’t I have been given that news four days ago? Again, I’m relieved to have had good news (and they literally chopped my prostate to pieces), but why couldn’t they share they good news when it arrived? So I’m happy, but still annoyed.
Your doctor probably had to review the report prior to giving you the good news. (And thank goodness the irritation in the thread title has nothing to do with the biopsy site! ) I know how you feel - had to wait 3 days for the “you don’t have cancer” once. Anxiety is an understatement when it comes to such health matters.
Imagine a world of rapid diagnostics… You biopsy sample gets read on the spot by a magic machine… Result in 15 min while you wait. Someday!
The discoverer of PSA has written a book giving his opinion that the PSA test is being misused as a screening tool (as opposed to its intended use to detect whether all of the prostate and prostate cancer has been removed by surgery in situations where that is done): http://www.amazon.com/The-Great-Prostate-Hoax-Medicine/dp/1137278749
Perhaps the doctor’s office wanted a follow-up visit to create another billable event to charge your insurance with?
@ucbalumnus I did read many of those reports. It’s really difficult to deal with the whole thing. My family doctor is an old college friend who is quite deferential to me at times. But when the PSA thing came up, he insisted that I have the first biopsy. He had put me on TRT, but told me that to continue it I would have to have the biopsy. The second time around the urologist did some type of fancy test that said I had a 52% chance of having prostate cancer. I consulted with a fraternity brother who is a cancer researcher (not prostate, though) and he told me just to have the biopsy and don’t do anything until I talked to him.
From what I gather, if everyone quit taking PSA tests most would be much better off. A very few would die rather painful deaths. Not sure how to balance this.
I also had a prostate biopsy. After looking at the ultrasound, the doctor told me he didn’t see any prostate cancer and the size of my prostate matched my psa level. My doctor called me with the official results a week later. I did not have to go back to the doctor’s office.
I don’t want another biopsy again either. It may be psychological but it took me about 6 months to stop feeling the shots.
@dstark They put me to twilight sleep both times. There was no question of me having it if I had to be awake. I really want to be put to sleep for a DRE.
Wish DH’s biopsy and CT were as clean as yours. Sigh… So if you had to wait a few days for the path report to be read (and most go up to Hopkins, IIRC), at least you got good news. Sorry, but as they say, quityurbitchin’.
OOH-- just looked it up and discovered it was also associated with an impolite song. My late mother, who used to say it, would roll over in her grave @-)
Cross-posted, Dstark. I heard the expression as a kid. Not in some horrid, inappropriate rebel song. That’s news to me. Maybe that clown owes my mom royalties!!!
That said, the timing of this thread is quite poor for me. So I reserve the right to feel it’s a little insensitive. Women have to wait for breast biopsy results all the time.
I am certainly not saying that going through a biopsy with a negative result is the same as being told you have cancer. Or having a husband told he has cancer.
) I know how you feel - had to wait 3 days for the “you don’t have cancer” once. Anxiety is an understatement when it comes to such health matters.