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My father is 74 years old, diagnosed with Prostate cancer (life changed after biopsy)

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meenal22
meenal22

Hi,

My father is 74 years old and was doing great and very healthy. With frequence urination issue, we went and found that prostate was enlarged and they suggested to biopsy though his PSA was not so high (7ng/ml). Post biopsy (which was anyways negative/benign for prostate cancer), everything got changed, he developed a severe pain which remain for long and they couldn't relieve him from that pain. we also suspected that biopsy spread the cancer cells and started all this pain. after MRI showed metastases , they didnt start cancer treatment without a proof/confirmation from biopsy, we did TURP and with those tissues again it was negative with mild impression for cancer in 1 or 2 tissues.

Is it possible that the biopsy spread the cancer cells outside and hence my father's MRI and bone scan shows metastases ? Pls advice / respond to clarify. Will it spread that fast in few months / weeks' time ? If its not spread, howcome the pain developed only after biopsy and he felt tired only the procedure of biopsy, also the TURP tissues showed impression of prostatic cancer in 1/2 tissues out of so much sample that's analysed.

They started harmonal therapy [with pamorelin for every 3 months along with calutide 50mg(1 per day), and zoledronic injection per month] it showed nice improvement by reducing the PSA to 0.1 ng/ml. But since last week his pain is more and now the PSA is increased to 13 ng/ml. They're planning to change the combination of oral medicines as part of this harmonal therapy now, that is, ABIRATERONE (250mg - 4 tablets per day) with prednisolone tablet. Is it good to start this ? have anyone had this before. Am worried about the side effects too, if its beneficial to control PSA level and help treating cancer, its really good. but at times the side effects are too aggressive on elder ppl.

Ultimately, we strongly feel, he did great healthwise and post biopsy things were totally changed. We were not informed about the risk factors of biopsy that it could spread. Even now doctors say that no, it wont.

If the diagnosis itself can increase the severity of cancer, then why do we even have such dangerous diagnosis as a method to start treatment for cancer is a million dollar question.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • craig84609
    craig84609 meenal22

    Posted

    I think at his age he should not have had a biopsy done.I have heard that the cancer can spread through the needle tracks, but no study has been done so they discount this and say it is unlikely. I don't believe that at all. Most cancers of the prostate are slow growing and won't cause an issue in 15 years or so and others are agressive in nature. It seems like his would have been slow growing, but it has spread now so the question is would it have been an issue if they had left it alone? Not sure. Cancer is odd in it's temperment. Just when doctors think they no it all they realize they don't have a clue. they can't say for sure that it can't spread by way of biopsy. They have no proof of this statement either. The thing to focus on now is not what could have been but what can be done now to help him. I would keep the doctors away that suggest more biopsy and welcome those that have a progressive approach to treatment. I am sorry that you all have to go through this and I wish you the best. 
    • meenal22
      meenal22 craig84609

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply, Craig.

      Yes, when we see his pain these days, I feel I shouldn't have taken him to that hospital where they did biopsy (blind one, without any guidance from MRI scan reports), cause he was normal and doing very good without any pain in life, with just the frequent urination problem. 

      As you correctly mentioned, we cant firmly say anything in cancer, as the treatment depends on individual's health and also most of the time like a trial (medicines are tried out, if it works we continue, else a different therapy) 

      If it would have been left inside, atleast the severity and pain will be less, and we could have done the cancer treatment for the cancer cells within prostate. This would have been much better. Now its spread and we dont have a clue. we can only suspect, cause the pain started only after that procedure.

      We're hoping for the best that this second combination of harmonal therapy that we're going to try will work well and his pain will come down and I have a great confidence that my father will live long happily with us with god's blessings.

  • dieter80046
    dieter80046 meenal22

    Posted

    Hi Meenal, I don't think the fact that life changed would necessarily be the result of the biopsy. I had biopsies (yes, plural) performed last year which gave valuable information, especially regarding the aggressiveness of my PC (Gleaon 4+5=9). This prompted me to have a radical prostatectomy, rather than the brachytherapy recommended by the first urologist. After a successfull operation in October last year, my PSA started going up again, but is now down to 0.1, thanks to hormone therapy (Bicalutamide 150mg). I am 76 years old.

    Good luck!

    • meenal22
      meenal22 dieter80046

      Posted

      Hi Dieter, sorry to hear that you too have gone through couple of biopsies. but 0.1 means, its good, Wish you all the best for speedy recovery and a wonderful life.

      Thanks for your response...

      We suspect biopsy as the pain (severe) started after that..and moreover we didnt take the MRI scan initially, we were not aware of all such issues. 

      Post biopsy, it showed the spread (metastases) in both MRI and bone scan.

      When we started harmone therapy with pamorelin (once in 3 months) and calutide 50mg - PSA came down to 0.1 ng/ml

      Now suddenly its showing a rise up to 13 ng/ml, and we also took a bone scan and it shows, now the spreads are worsen or significantly increased from last time's scan report. shows that desease is progressive. Doctors say that its acquainted with the medicine and now we have to change the combination. (from calutide 50mg to arbiraterone (250mg * 4 per day))

      And for the pain relief, he has suggested radiation.

      This aribraterone's sideeffects are high, though they say its harly applicable for few...my father is scared as he has other issues like BP, ulcer...

      So wanted to understand what's the best treatment to bring down the PSA with less / no side effects. If anyone is already taking arbiraterone, wanted to know if it helps to recover in a better way.

      Hoping for the best...

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