Do biopsies on active surveillance ever stop?
I had my first biopsy in July 2017 - results were 3+3. MRI was Pirads 2. PSA was 5. Since then I have had 3 additional biopsies/MRIs. My second biopsy was clean, next two 3+3. All MRIs Pirads 2. PSA has ranged between 5, down to 3.5 and up to 5.2 during these close to 8 years. Going for my 5th biopsy next month which will be 33 months after my last one. My guess is if my second biopsy (clean) was my first I would have never had a second biopsy based on my PSA staying steady. Is there ever a point where if the biopsy does not change from 3+3 that they eliminate them? Doesn't this many biopsies do damage to the prostate? Tough getting a straight answer from my urologist on this.
Hi
. I can't personally speak to this issue, but I want to share with you this site on active surveillance from Prostate Cancer UK which notes that "Once you start active surveillance, you may only have another biopsy if other tests suggest your cancer is growing. Your PSA level might rise a little, even if your cancer isn’t growing. Your doctor will decide if it has risen enough for you to need a biopsy:" https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/treatments/active-surveillance. Have you discussed with your doctor why they feel another biopsy is necessary at this time? Is a recent rise in PSA the catalyst? If you feel your doctor isn't forthcoming with information, please know that you are always entitled to another opinion. Hopefully others will chime in with their thoughts and experiences. Please feel free to keep us posted on how things are going. Best, Richard (Team Member) Yea - he is of the mindset that you need a biopsy every couple/few years irregardless of the PSA numbers/MRI results not changing if you are on active surveillance. There are a lot of things I have read that do echo that thought. I'm just trying to find out if anyone had multiple biopsies and then was told they would only have them if bloodwork/MRI changed.
