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Worrying waiting for Biopsy results

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User
Posted 06 Feb 2022 at 15:39

Hi

I just joined today and wondered if it is normal to worry all the time about what the results of the biopsy which I had 6 days ago in Southampton. I hardly sleep and worry day and night about dying, my PSA reading was 7.5 which I found out as a result of asking my GP for a test a couple of weeks ago, I am 68 years old and am healthy as far as I know. Its all gone quickly and I am struggling to take it all in. Any advice on dealing with this would be very welcome.

Thank you for reading 

Pete

User
Posted 06 Feb 2022 at 20:07
We've all been there, Pete. Waiting for results is the hardest part of the whole process. You should be aware of the fact that roughly 70% of men your age DO have prostate cancer, so the odds are that the biopsy results will come back positive. Don't get too stressed about it. You get diagnosed, if necessary you get treated, and then you get on with your life. Localised prostate cancer is a very treatable condition. I got diagnosed in 2018, treated in 2019, and I'm enjoying life. A diagnosis of localised prostate cancer is certainly a game-changer, but it's not a death sentence.

Just take it a day at a time. You'll know where you stand in the next few weeks, and most people feel a lot better about it then.

All the best,

Chris

User
Posted 06 Feb 2022 at 20:52

It’s perfectly normal. The waiting and the unknown were the worst for us. Once my husband had a treatment plan in place we felt better. Best wishes.

User
Posted 06 Feb 2022 at 21:21

You definitely aren't going to wake-up tomorrow dead. As Chris says most men your age have prostate cancer and for most of them they won't know they have it. Quite often the best treatment is do nothing but keep an eye on it. Of course things may be more serious.

Everyone worries whilst waiting for the result, and then they worry when they get the result, but with modern treatments and your relatively low PSA there is little to worry about.

Dave

User
Posted 07 Feb 2022 at 00:13

Hi Pete,

As everyone has said this is completely normal. I literally didn’t eat or sleep for days while we were waiting on my husbands diagnosis. He was so worried he was going to die too and that upset me even more 😢

He did have cancer and he did have local spread, he has had some hormone treatment and an operation. He’s recovering unbelievably well….almost to the point you wouldn’t know it had happened. 

We are now in a completely different place and getting on with life and see what happens. None of us know what the future will hold so we’re not really in a different position to anyone else now. 

Really hope you get the all clear but on the chance that you don’t it is far from a death sentence for most men. Things will feel better when you know and if it’s required when you have a plan.

Take care 

Elaine 

User
Posted 07 Feb 2022 at 07:17
Hi pete, i had a specialist nurse assigned once i was diagnosed and we had a good few chats before i made a treatment decision, which helped massively; hopefully you might get one but if not, you can always talk to the nurses via this site. I found talking about my feelings, situation etc, allayed some of the fears and of course they can answer any questions, which i'm sure you will have plenty of once your biopsy results are known, if it does turn out to be PC.

Keep us updated.

All the very best,

Nick

User
Posted 15 Feb 2022 at 04:28
Anything yet? About two weeks ago but I’ve no idea how long the results take.
User
Posted 15 Feb 2022 at 18:03
I had to await the appointment with the urologist for the biopsy results. Thankfully, he then handed me over to an oncologist who discussed treatment options and implemented what we agreed to with great efficiency, thus reducing the stress associated with uncertainty.
User
Posted 16 Feb 2022 at 16:01

The waiting is the worst part.  It really is a rollercoaster.  Take one day at a time (or one hour) and try and fill your time as best you can.  Fingers crossed you hear soon. Jx

User
Posted 16 Feb 2022 at 18:13

The waiting time is awful and hopefully you will get the results soon. Mine was a week . 

If you do get a result which shows prostate cancer then don’t panic!

The site provides experiences and help for you to assess your next course of action. The only thing I would suggest is if you do have prostrate cancer you research all options and discuss with your oncologists. Many are blinkered to more focal and less invasive therapies so check these out and seek different views. 

Wishing hopefully for good news for you! 

paul 

User
Posted 07 Apr 2022 at 08:17

Good news then Pete that the cancer is confined to your prostate- as mine was. I am 64 and underwent surgery last December and opted for surgery because I wanted the cancer out and didn't like the idea of introducing radiation into my body.It is indeed a personal choice and there are pros and cons to both treatments. For what it is worth (and everybody is different), my surgery has been a complete success and just over 3 months after surgery I am 99.99% continent (I only leak when I am lifting something really heavy), have regained my pre-surgery fitness levels and although my erections are not as rock hard as they once were they are fit for purpose. Obviously no semen.

 

If interested, my prostate cancer dateline can be found under my profile name

 

Ivan

User
Posted 07 Apr 2022 at 15:32

Thanks Ivan,

I was of the same mind as you about having it out and for the same reasons, it was at my meeting on Weds that I started doubting myself about my choice. So I have a phone call booked for Friday to go through the options again and then I will chose and hope I get the right one for me. 

I am pleased to see your choice of surgery is going well for you and hope your recovery continues,

Best regards

Pete

User
Posted 07 Apr 2022 at 17:01

Glad you finally have your results Pete. And good news that it is contained and you have lots of choices of treatment. Best of luck in making your decision x

User
Posted 07 Apr 2022 at 17:26

Pete--good luck with your treatment options--have a look at my post for consideration

 

Paul

 

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User
Posted 06 Feb 2022 at 20:07
We've all been there, Pete. Waiting for results is the hardest part of the whole process. You should be aware of the fact that roughly 70% of men your age DO have prostate cancer, so the odds are that the biopsy results will come back positive. Don't get too stressed about it. You get diagnosed, if necessary you get treated, and then you get on with your life. Localised prostate cancer is a very treatable condition. I got diagnosed in 2018, treated in 2019, and I'm enjoying life. A diagnosis of localised prostate cancer is certainly a game-changer, but it's not a death sentence.

Just take it a day at a time. You'll know where you stand in the next few weeks, and most people feel a lot better about it then.

All the best,

Chris

User
Posted 06 Feb 2022 at 20:52

It’s perfectly normal. The waiting and the unknown were the worst for us. Once my husband had a treatment plan in place we felt better. Best wishes.

User
Posted 06 Feb 2022 at 21:21

You definitely aren't going to wake-up tomorrow dead. As Chris says most men your age have prostate cancer and for most of them they won't know they have it. Quite often the best treatment is do nothing but keep an eye on it. Of course things may be more serious.

Everyone worries whilst waiting for the result, and then they worry when they get the result, but with modern treatments and your relatively low PSA there is little to worry about.

Dave

User
Posted 07 Feb 2022 at 00:13

Hi Pete,

As everyone has said this is completely normal. I literally didn’t eat or sleep for days while we were waiting on my husbands diagnosis. He was so worried he was going to die too and that upset me even more 😢

He did have cancer and he did have local spread, he has had some hormone treatment and an operation. He’s recovering unbelievably well….almost to the point you wouldn’t know it had happened. 

We are now in a completely different place and getting on with life and see what happens. None of us know what the future will hold so we’re not really in a different position to anyone else now. 

Really hope you get the all clear but on the chance that you don’t it is far from a death sentence for most men. Things will feel better when you know and if it’s required when you have a plan.

Take care 

Elaine 

User
Posted 07 Feb 2022 at 07:17
Hi pete, i had a specialist nurse assigned once i was diagnosed and we had a good few chats before i made a treatment decision, which helped massively; hopefully you might get one but if not, you can always talk to the nurses via this site. I found talking about my feelings, situation etc, allayed some of the fears and of course they can answer any questions, which i'm sure you will have plenty of once your biopsy results are known, if it does turn out to be PC.

Keep us updated.

All the very best,

Nick

User
Posted 07 Feb 2022 at 08:07

Wow thank you all for your positive comments and feed back, it has really helped reading the replies this morning, what you have all said all makes sense and can`t thank you enough, I will keep reading them to give me mental strength as I wait for the results with fingers crossed. 

I hope that you and your loved ones have a long and happy life, 

Thank you

Pete

User
Posted 15 Feb 2022 at 04:28
Anything yet? About two weeks ago but I’ve no idea how long the results take.
User
Posted 15 Feb 2022 at 16:57

Hi, thank you for following,

no nothing yet, they said 2 to 3 weeks and if i haven`t heard by then to give them a call.

Just keeping my fingers crossed for favourable news but sometimes fearing the worst, up and down times.

But also very aware in the fact that there are people a lot worse off than me.

best regards

Pete

User
Posted 15 Feb 2022 at 18:03
I had to await the appointment with the urologist for the biopsy results. Thankfully, he then handed me over to an oncologist who discussed treatment options and implemented what we agreed to with great efficiency, thus reducing the stress associated with uncertainty.
User
Posted 15 Feb 2022 at 20:19

Thank you for the reply,

I think you are right in that it is the unknowing and uncertainty that plays tricks on my mind in the down times, especially at night if I wake up,

In the cold light of day and when I am with company I find it easier to put it all into perspective and feel positive.

Best regards 

Pete

User
Posted 16 Feb 2022 at 16:01

The waiting is the worst part.  It really is a rollercoaster.  Take one day at a time (or one hour) and try and fill your time as best you can.  Fingers crossed you hear soon. Jx

User
Posted 16 Feb 2022 at 16:19

Thanks JaneP

agreed, some days its easy to put it to the back of your mind, others its all you think about and have negative thoughts no matter how much you tell yourself to get a grip. 

Everyone suggests that once I have a way forward from the results it will improve. 

I have found this site very helpful with very caring people prepared to offer positive ideas and thoughts.

Best regards

Pete

 

User
Posted 16 Feb 2022 at 18:13

The waiting time is awful and hopefully you will get the results soon. Mine was a week . 

If you do get a result which shows prostate cancer then don’t panic!

The site provides experiences and help for you to assess your next course of action. The only thing I would suggest is if you do have prostrate cancer you research all options and discuss with your oncologists. Many are blinkered to more focal and less invasive therapies so check these out and seek different views. 

Wishing hopefully for good news for you! 

paul 

User
Posted 16 Feb 2022 at 20:37

Hi Paul 

thank you for reading and for your sound advice, I talk to a couple of people I know who have had PC, one had the prostrate removed and one had Radio & HRT patches, both are successful so far , they had their treatment during 2021, both had different side effects so I presume that would be a factor to discuss with oncologists as well.

Best Regards

Pete

User
Posted 06 Apr 2022 at 20:29

Hi

my results after a PET Scan show that the PC is confined to my prostate, and today I was offered the choice of Robotic radical prostatectomy or HDR Brachytherapy so have to decide on the best way forward now. Any advice/thoughts from you great people would be welcome and I hope you are all progressing well with your treatments

PSA 7, 38cc gland,

Left side Gleason 4+3=7 & 4+4=8.  Right side Gleason 3+3=6,3+4=7 & 4+3=7

  Best regards

Pete

 

 

User
Posted 07 Apr 2022 at 08:17

Good news then Pete that the cancer is confined to your prostate- as mine was. I am 64 and underwent surgery last December and opted for surgery because I wanted the cancer out and didn't like the idea of introducing radiation into my body.It is indeed a personal choice and there are pros and cons to both treatments. For what it is worth (and everybody is different), my surgery has been a complete success and just over 3 months after surgery I am 99.99% continent (I only leak when I am lifting something really heavy), have regained my pre-surgery fitness levels and although my erections are not as rock hard as they once were they are fit for purpose. Obviously no semen.

 

If interested, my prostate cancer dateline can be found under my profile name

 

Ivan

User
Posted 07 Apr 2022 at 15:32

Thanks Ivan,

I was of the same mind as you about having it out and for the same reasons, it was at my meeting on Weds that I started doubting myself about my choice. So I have a phone call booked for Friday to go through the options again and then I will chose and hope I get the right one for me. 

I am pleased to see your choice of surgery is going well for you and hope your recovery continues,

Best regards

Pete

User
Posted 07 Apr 2022 at 17:01

Glad you finally have your results Pete. And good news that it is contained and you have lots of choices of treatment. Best of luck in making your decision x

User
Posted 07 Apr 2022 at 17:26

Pete--good luck with your treatment options--have a look at my post for consideration

 

Paul

 

 
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