Biopsy

[lindacarrington67]

Hi my dad had a prostrate Biopsy Thurs (we haven't had results yet) but have receiveda letter written the day after sending him for a bone scan why ?

[ctarleton]

Those are good questions for the doctor.

By the way, your Dad has every right to request a written copy of his recent prostate biopsy Pathology Report for his personal records and review. He also has every right to seek a second opinion from an independent Pathologist on the reading of his biopsy results, based on his tissues and slides.

If you want to learn more about understanding prostate biopsy pathology reports, here is an overview of common terminology:

pathology.jhu.edu/departmen...

Here is a link to one of the best second opinion Pathologists in the world for prostate cancers, located at Johns Hopkins, if a second opinion might be needed. Your doctor/original pathologist can handle all the details.

pathology.jhu.edu/departmen...

The referral to get a Bone Scan is likely to try to see if your Dad either does or does not have any evidence of the cancer having escaped the prostate area, to spread somewhere to bone(s) in his skeleton. Follow the instructions from the scheduling person. He will go in and get a shot of a mildly radioactive marker that decays quickly. About 2-3 hours later he will return and lie very still on a table as a special sensing device scans his body a few times, detecting where the marker may have settled somewhere in his bones. Later, a radiologist will "read" the scan(s) and write a Radiology Report and send the results to your Dad's doctor. If your Dad may want a personal copy of the Report, or even a computer disk of the scans and the report, your Dad can ask to have that done when he first checks-in, or sometime later, after talking with his doctor.

Good Luck on the tests!

Keep us posted.

Charles

[ctarleton in reply to ctarleton]

Of course, in the UK or elsewhere, there are likely to be different procedural hoops to jump through.

See also:

prostatecanceruk.org/

Charles

[Scruffybut1 in reply to ctarleton]

UK hoops pretty much the same Charles. I have copies of all reports plus my various scans. I also receive fbc monthly and a full review, copy of which I give my GP who is also my diabetes lead as PCa drugs impact seriously on glucose which PCa loves to feed on.

[lindacarrington67 in reply to ctarleton]

Thankyou Charles

[Hidden]

Normally, a bone scan is carried out if cancer cells are found in the biopsy. I don't know if the results of the biopsy are normally available to the doctor after only one day. I doubt it. If the biopsy is negative the bone scan won't be necessary. Perhaps the doctor already has a strong suspicion that the biopsy WILL be positive. This would be based on your dad's PSA test and on rectal exam. What was your dad's PSA and if you're not embarrassed to ask him, what did the doctor say about the rectal exam.

It does seem unusual to order a bone scan so quickly.

If sadly, the biopsy is positive, then your dad should also have an MRI scan.

Also the biopsy will give a "Gleason" score, which is an indication of how aggressive the cancer cells are.

The doctor should explain all this to your dad. Perhaps they did but your dad hasn't told you or didn't take it in. Prostate cancer can be embarrassing as well as scary. Some aspects of it even doctors are reluctant to talk about.

It's a balancing act. In some respects it's a good idea to get as much info as possible as soon as possible but this in turn may raise fears.

Cancer isn't "official" until the biopsy result is positive.

[lindacarrington67 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that ,the letter came straight from the urology department ,don't think his g.p has received anything from the hosp yet .Dad is 72 ,wish I didn't live so far as neither he or my mother take things in properly.He says they told him his PSA was 35 for some reason she says 3.5 she din't go in with him though .He always feels very fatigued ,sleeps alot & when awake complains of his bones ,just lately having difficulty walking . you right ,lets worry when he gets the results 2 nd 0ct x

[Hidden in reply to lindacarrington67]

A PSA of over 10 isn't good, and if he's complaining of his bones I can see it would suggest the need for a bone scan. I have bone pains, but it's arthritis! Can someone go with him when he gets the results? Wish him luck

[KingRachel in reply to lindacarrington67]

Linda

I know exactly what your going through, my Dad is the same age he had biopsies done Friday and bone scan done today we were told it was protocol for the size of the mass that was found on the MRI !! His PSA wasn’t high at all either.

I have my fingers crossed for you too and have been told that it is easy treated and to keep positive I wish you your Dad luck x

[barryc1958]

I had the same, a biopsy then a letter a few days later for a bone scan, they have obviously found some cancer in the prostate and now looking to ensure it has not spread to the pelvis, don’t get too worried and jump the gun, just the oncologist checking all scenarios.