saturation biopsy

[Art Smith]

getting a free/total psa tomorrow(3-4-09)...urologist says next step would be a "saturation biopsy"..I was wondering if anyone had one of these and any thoughts/comments/information they could share...thanks

[Art Smith]

Hey Mike,
Well I got my free/total psa back yesterday and you're right ...the Dr. said he would have wanted the total a little higher but it wasn't definitive for him...some good news though my base psa dropped from 7.1 to 4.1 ?? He had started me on Avodart about 10 days ago and said that this would make the psa drop about 50% once I am on it for 4-6 months...when they drew the blood for this last psa test I had only been on it for about 6 days...anyway, he suggested that I stay on it and we take another psa in a month to give him a curve...from what I've read I can't imagine that the Avodart for only 6 days would make the psa drop that much...?? any thoughts...I had a long discussion with him and he feels that we are on top of this and doing everything we can do at this point....Art

[E. Michael D. ("Mike") Scott]

Art: I would be surprised if the Avodart had dropped the PSA level by 40% in 6 days -- but I suppose it is possible. I think taking another PSA in a month's time is a good decision. This will give you and your doc a clearer idea of what the Avodart has actually done to the PSA level. Furthermore, the Avodart will also "sensitize" your PSA in the sense that once it stabilizes at whatever level it goes down to, new rises in the PSA will give a greater degree of snesitivity to risk for prostate cancer.

Your urologist certainly sounds like he knows what he is doing. Take the day off. Go play golf or whatever you do for fun!

:O)

[Art Smith]

Mike,
Got another psa back and it has dropped again to 3.8( 1month ago, 4.1) My urologist doesn't think the avodart has caused this drop yet because I've only been on it 36 days to date and he said it generally took 4-6 months to see a difference....anyway, these latest results are promising and reassuring to me so we are going to stay on the avodart and take another psa in 3 months...I appreciate your comments and information...my wife went with me this time also so that we would have 2 sets of ears to hear what the Dr. had to say...she was pleased also with the results thus far...anyway, thanks Mike for listening and responding....Art

[E. Michael D. ("Mike") Scott]

Art: This sounds like a good decision ... and if Mrs Art is happy too, what more could you possibly want?! :O)

[Art Smith]

Hey Mike,
Well I got my PSA back again (3 months ago, 3.8) and it has gone down to 3.2...We didn't do the free/total because Dr. said that when the baseline PSA was below 4 it was harder to evaluate..anyway, I was a little discouraged because I thought it would have dropped more than that..I have now been on the Avodart for 4 months now...he wants to take another PSA in 6 months...I am going to stay on the Avodart for another 3 months and then go off of it for the 6 month PSA test....he also did a urine sample and it was negative...all he said is that it is going in the right direction...I guess not fast enough for me...I haven't been on for several months,,just waiting to get the results on this last psa...any thoughts?? / advice??
Thanks, Art

[E. Michael D. ("Mike") Scott]

Art:

If your PSA level is dropping, then whatever your problem might be it would seem to be under control ... and I think the plan that your doctor has outlined makes sense: careful monitoring on a regular basis for a while seems like the order of the day to me.

[Steve Z]

Amen.

[Randy D]

I have had two needle biopsies--one of 6 samples the other 12 samples. I am currently seeing a different urologist at Roswell Cancer center. Since my psa is hight 9+, which is down from 10+, he wants to do a saturation biopsy in which he will take 27 samples. In performing the procedure, will he pierce the anal wall each time (27 times), or will he pierce it once & take the 27 samples from the one hole? Also, what are some of the risks in this procedure? Anyone out there who has had this procedure done & what are your thoughts on your experience?

[Art Smith]

Hi Randy,
My uro had suggested a "saturation biopsy" a few months ago,,,but my psa has fallen slowly,consistently over the past few months so we have held off...my first biopsy(6 cores) came back totally negative...he said the saturation biopsy was a TURP procedure....you can check that out and see what all is entailed...have you been diagnosed with pc?? I have not at this time but have been monitoring my psa because it rose over about a year and a half and now has over the past few months been dropping..??? Dr. not sure why?? Art

[Steve Z]

Art,

Please check you last post. I think you meant TRUS (transrectal ultrasound) biopsy not TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate). These are very different procedures.

Thanks,

Steve Z

[Art Smith]

Steve,
Actually, when I asked my uro what a saturation biopsy entailed he described the procedure and I told him that sounded like a TURP and he said that was what it was..I suppose a saturation biopsy could be interpreted differently depending on the doctor??? Anyway, my response was based on what my urologist told me...sorry if that was misinformation...Art

[Steve Z]

Randy,

You need to find out from your doctor what he has in mind first. Call him up and let us know.

As your current post currently stands, readers don't know what procedure you are asking them to comment on.

Steve Z