Posted on 02/05/2022 7:25:37 AM PST by ConservativeMind
A new risk calculator could reduce the number of unnecessary and invasive biopsies for prostate cancer.
Adam Kinnaird, a surgeon, said the tool is available online for free, requires only conventional clinical data paired with data from prostate MRI scans, and targets an unmet clinical need for prostate cancer patients.
"Only about 25 to 30 percent of them may show some prostate cancer, and up to seven percent of men, after they've had a prostate biopsy, end up getting hospitalized within 30 days. And, there's a four percent risk of what's called post-biopsy sepsis, which can cause patients to end up in the ICU or may even prove fatal," said Kinnaird.
The risk calculator, called the PCRC-MRI, is the first in North America developed to predict biopsy outcomes in North American men. The combination of the standard-of-care data with MRI data provides two critical benefits: it triages patients to determine whether they truly need the biopsy in the first place, and if they do, it improves the technique so clinicians are better able to find more clinically significant prostate cancer.
"We did a net benefit analysis using this calculator. The analysis showed that we could safely avoid 16 biopsies out of every 100 at a risk threshold of 20 percent. What that means is we could potentially be saving 16 men from having to undergo this invasive procedure that has serious potential side-effects," said Kinnaird.
Kinnaird noted that the MRI-guided prostate biopsy is already a major improvement on the current standard of care in Alberta, called a 12-core transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy.
"It's basically a blind biopsy. An ultrasound probe can see the prostate, it can see the outline, but it cannot see if there's actually any prostate cancer in the prostate," Kinnaird explained.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
The prostate risk calculator is available here:
https://www.uclahealth.org/urology/prostate-cancer-risk-calculator
The best indicator of risk is age. If a man lives long enough, he’s going to get it. Until then keep track of your PSA numbers.
I had a prostrate biopsy on a Thursday. Saturday morning I felt bad. Stupidly thought I had the flu. Sunday morning I was experiencing fever and severe chills. Finally realized what was happening. Called the urologist on call doctor who told me to go to the emergency room immediately. Spent the day on IV antibiotics being very closely monitored. I don’t think it is exaggeration to say I almost died. Never again. I may very well die of prostrate cancer, but I’m not doing that again.
I am incredibly glad you got urgent care for it.
There are reasonable ways to bring down PSA scores and reduce BPH and prostate cancer. Also, there are non-invasive medical ways to reduce prostate weight.
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Why did you have a biopsy?
Was something seen on a colonoscopy?
A high PCR reading?
“Why did you have a biopsy?
Was something seen on a colonoscopy?
A high PCR reading?”
High PCR. The biopsy results were negative. I don’t remember how many samples they took, but it was a most uncomfortable experience all around.
Mine is huge and I've had it biopsied 5 times. It ain't no fun. However, the modern procedure isn't nearly as bad as the first one was.
After one of the procedures, I commented to the technician assisting the doctor, "Why any man would want to be a homosexual is beyond me". He said he understood completely.
I've never had prostate cancer and my urologist said he may "fire" me. He said it's such a slow growing cancer and I'm already 71+ so there's very little need to bother.
He prescribed a couple of medicines that help and one has the side effect of growing hair!
Prostate cancer is the number one cause of death in men.
Nobody cares because they are so old they already look dead when it happens.
Still....I don't think I want to die of prostate cancer, I'm 78 and healthy.
At the last visit, my PSA went up a bit, so I was sent for another biopsy. It found that the cancer has progressed from low risk to intermediate risk. It's coming out in a couple of weeks. If I were you, I suggest finding a new doctor.
Active Surveillance means closely watching, and, if you're lucky, you'll die of something else first. I guess I wasn't so lucky.
Mine is huge and I’ve had it biopsied 5 times. It ain’t no fun. However, the modern procedure isn’t nearly as bad as the first one was.
“After one of the procedures, I commented to the technician assisting the doctor, “Why any man would want to be a homosexual is beyond me”. He said he understood completely.
I’ve never had prostate cancer and my urologist said he may “fire” me. He said it’s such a slow growing cancer and I’m already 71+ so there’s very little need to bother.
He prescribed a couple of medicines that help and one has the side effect of growing hair!”
I have no doubt that if I participated I would be getting biopsied frequently. If you don’t mind me asking, what were the medications?
Everyone needs a working prostate to keep an active sex life so the solution is simple: Remove everyone’s prostate as soon as he goes on medicare. Should the taxpayer be on the financial hook for your boner? The show-offs can use their own money to keep up with their young girlfriends.
I’ve had three biopsy’s all say very unremarkable and my psa goes up and down never over 7.fortunately my doc says watch it for 6 months every time.
“Everyone needs a working prostate to keep an active sex life so the solution is simple: Remove everyone’s prostate as soon as he goes on medicare. Should the taxpayer be on the financial hook for your boner? The show-offs can use their own money to keep up with their young girlfriends.”
Frankly, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. I never said anything about my sex life, because it’s nobody’s business. What the discussion was about was dying of prostrate cancer. And, no, the government is not going to make me get my prostrate removed.
I still go to the urologist (at the VA). And you should "participate" as well and have it biopsied if they think you need it, probably based on your PSA test. They'll also ask you how many times you go during the night and about the strength of your stream.
The first biopsy I had was pretty painful, but they've improved the testing a lot since then. Nowadays, they're uncomfortable but not really all that bad.
My brother had prostate cancer and was treated with some sort of pinpoint laser treatment, and never had any further problems.
I still take the medications. One is Finasteride 5mg. This is the one that helps to grow hair. The other is Alfuzosin 10mg. It's either the same as Flomax or works in a similar manner to Flomax to relax the prostate and allow easier urination.
Good luck!
Thanks!
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