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Prostate Cancer (Expert Forum)
Prostate -- Biopsy or No Biopsy?
Answered by
Ash Tewari, MD, M.Ch. - Prostate Cancer, Robotic Prostatectomy, Urology, Oncology, Surgery
Lefrak Institute for Robotic Surgery and Prostate Cancer
New York - NY
This forum is for questions about: Advanced or Metastatic Prostate Cancer, Biopsy, Bone Scan, Blood in Urine or Semen, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), CT Scan, Cystoscopy, Erectile Dysfunction, Hormone Therapy, Incontinence, Pain (abdomen, low back or hip), PSA Test, Prostatitis , Radiation Therapy, Rectal Exam, Recurrent Cancer, Risk Factors, Screening, Staging (Tumor size; Metastasis), Surgery, Transrectal Ultrasound, Urinary Difficulty or Burning, Urinary Urgency (Leaking), Watchful Waiting.
Prostate -- Biopsy or No Biopsy?
by asiagee, Sep 07, 2007 06:14AM
My father has been going to the doctor regularly and his PSA level has been rising. Right now, his PSA level is 11.15 and his Free PSA is 15%. The doctor advises him to get a biopsy, but he is really reluctant to do so. He is afraid that if he does have cancer, all that probing around when they do the biopsy will make the cancer spread quicker. Is that a possibility? Plus, he has a friend who is a homeopathic doctor who advises him not to do the biopsy as he feels that with a correct diet and massaging the prostate 3 times a week will make his PSA level lower. Is that true? How safe is the prostate massage? Please advise your thoughts as his biopsy is scheduled 2 weeks from now, but my father has made it quite clear he will not go through with it. My family is not sure what the next step should be. If you could shine some light on this matter, I would really appreciate it.
Doctor's Answer
by Ash Tewari, MD, M.Ch., Sep 10, 2007 02:32PM
, Sep 10, 2007 02:32PMTo: asiagee
Hello,
Having a PSA of 11 is a cause for concern. Your father should be evaluated using a standardized prostate biopsy, although his concerns are logical, there is more harm from not doing the biopsy and allowing the cancer to progress than there is spreading of tumor from biopsy specimens. So in conclusion, he should get the biopsy and any other workup proposed, spread of tumor as a result of biopsy is minimal.
The homeopathic doctors advice is to be taken with a grain of salt. Changing your diet and a massage will not rid your body of cancer, although there is not much published data about how those therapies do work, there is tons of published data about brachytherapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, the mainstays of treatment. Without any intervention there is a strong possibility that the tumor could metastasize and without treatment the consequences are great. Also the logistics of performing a three time a week prostate massage is difficult, who will do the massage? How to know if one is doing it correctly etc? Although changing diet is beneficial for health reasons, it will not stop/slow the progression of cancer.
I hope this explanation was helpful, Thanks!
Having a PSA of 11 is a cause for concern. Your father should be evaluated using a standardized prostate biopsy, although his concerns are logical, there is more harm from not doing the biopsy and allowing the cancer to progress than there is spreading of tumor from biopsy specimens. So in conclusion, he should get the biopsy and any other workup proposed, spread of tumor as a result of biopsy is minimal.
The homeopathic doctors advice is to be taken with a grain of salt. Changing your diet and a massage will not rid your body of cancer, although there is not much published data about how those therapies do work, there is tons of published data about brachytherapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, the mainstays of treatment. Without any intervention there is a strong possibility that the tumor could metastasize and without treatment the consequences are great. Also the logistics of performing a three time a week prostate massage is difficult, who will do the massage? How to know if one is doing it correctly etc? Although changing diet is beneficial for health reasons, it will not stop/slow the progression of cancer.
I hope this explanation was helpful, Thanks!
