Now I'm confused and not quite as confident/optimistic as before.  When I
first talked
to my doctor on Monday, I assumed after we reviewed his understanding of the
pathology report for the biopsy that I was lucky in that the report
reflected a very small/low volumne tumor whic was low grade.  I guess thats
still true
given the fact that out of 16 core tissue samples (this time) they only
found cancer in
one a single (1) core  sample which was less than 1% of that sample.
Apparently the amount
of cancer found was so small that it was hard to estimate the Glease Grade.
In fact the lab indicated that it was at least a Gleason 3.  And that alone
gives me some concern since the words "at least" implies it could be worse.
On the other hand, finding so little cancer tissue should be a good sign.
If you recall, my first biopsy took place in March of 2003 (again 16 core
tissue samples taken) and subsequent to the inital PSA of 4.02 that started
this
mess, some 5 or so PSA's have varied from a low 0f 3.4 to 3.83.
The reason for the second biopsy was the concern of the 16 and 18% Free PSA.
In short, in the
past 18 months I have had a total of 32 core needle samples with 1 core
containing (as of Aug 18)
less than 1% of cancer tissue.  Hummmmmmmm!!!!

So, I have taken  advice from several previous reponses and asked Wake
Forest Medical Hosptial to send the tissue slide to Bostwich Lab in
Richmond, VA for a second
opinion.  With such a small tissue sample in the single core, I don't know
if
they can be any more definitive.  And I certainly don't want to go through
another biopsy fishing for more cancer unless absolutely necessary.   That
would make 3.

At any rate, I am typing in below the imporant parts of the pathology report
(for anyone interested) that
I received today and if any of you think I am off base, overly concerened,
or can shed some
light on what it really says, let me know.  Significant parts of the report
follow:

****************************************************************************
********************************************************

FINAL PATHOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS
MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION AND DIAGNOSIS

A.  Needle Biopsies, Right Side of Prostate:
     Focal adenocarcinoma (see comment)

B.  Needle Biopsies, Left Side of Prostate:
    Benign prostate tissue showing areas of atrophy and areas of acute and
chronic inflamation.

COMMENT (Ref A. Above)
The tumor present in specimen A is seen focally in only one core in the
firstlievel on the A1 slide.   It represents well less than 1% of the total
amount of prostate tissue available for examination.  The focus of tumor
appears to be at least Gleason grade 3, but too little tumore is present to
give meaningful grading/scoring.

GROSS DESCRIPTION:

A.  Eight needle core biiopsies ranging from 0.4 to 2.0 cm are wrapped and
entirely submitted in A1-2.

B.  Eight needle core biopsies ranging from 1.5 to 2.0 cm are wrapped and
entirely submitted in B1.

****************************************************************************
********************************************************

I have another meeting with my doctor in about 2 weeks (Sep 9).  I hope my
original
optimism was warranted?  I should also note that the fact that I apparently
have serious inflamation problems on the left side of the prostate and this
portends
some concern for potential problems if I go the seed implantion route?

Roy in Winston-Salem

----- Original Message -----
From: "Road Runner" <rbensonjr@triad.rr.com>
Newsgroups: alt.support.cancer.prostate
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 4:59 AM
Subject: Positive Biopsy - 2nd Time

in

came

score

was

extrapolated

assume

me

necessary.

even

However,

Again,

ran

and

which

the

of

to

"Road Runner" <rbensonjr@triad.rr.com> wrote in message
news:orDWc.44$6h6.26315@twister.southeast.rr.com...

in

came

score

was

extrapolated

assume

me

necessary.

even

However,

Again,

ran

and

which

the

of

to