It's just as likely Peter that he never went back to the Doc for another
exam for 5 years after the 2.3 reading? You can't count on a doc to keep
after you. I think a dentist does a better job, sending out cleaning
appointment postcards every 6 months.

urologists in your area.

We live in Prescott, AZ (between Phoenix and Flagstaff).

Thank you all for your responses.  We had the biopsy at Mayo Clinic in
Scottsdale (Phoenix) last Thursday.  Results will take a week.  He lost
count of the biopsies but there were at least 12.  It was excrutiating
for him and they absolutely refused to give him valium or anything
first.  Then when they put the local in, they did not wait but
immediately started taking biopsies.  However, the painfulness did not
decrease over time, as one would expect if the local was slow to act.

When we had sex 2 days later, there was blood.  To be expected, I am
sure.  I feel like we ought to do that more rather than less, to help
the prostate clear out.  But then, it might be an irritant.  Any
comment?   I am appalled at the thought of the damage done by biopsies,
try not to imagine it, and of course agree that it is necessary.

I forgot to tell you all that his dad died of metastatized PC.  Which
is MD knew, along with the tests.  He saw his MD more than once a year
in those 5 years without tests.  When we had the opportunity to change
health insurance I took it because his MD was NOT on the new plan, and
my husband is passive and although he disliked the Dr would not change.
This worked, he saw a new Dr who initiated the series of events that
led to today.  I was frustrated because I have a deep disrespect for
that Dr from personal and anectdotal experience (other people), and
besides the PCa hx, my husband has extensive colon cancer family hx and
that was not being followed up except for one colonoscopy 5 yrs ago.
(The Dr know the PCa hx also but did not follow up that jump in #s.)

Anyway we do have insurance, would like a local (Yavapai County) doctor
if possible to identify a good one.

Probably I won't write until next week when we get some answers.
Thanks again for your responses, it is very supportive.

Thank you all for your responses.  I already replied, but it is not
showing up, so I will try again.

Our location is Prescott, Arizona.  A doctor in Yavapai County would be
good.  We are between Phoenix and Flagstaff.  Do others agree w/Steve
about the Prostate Cancer Institute website credible?  They list a
urologist in Cottonwood who does cyrosurgery.  That might be good for a
2nd opinion, maybe treatment.  His name is Alex Horchak.

He did not specifically ask for a PSA, JK, but he saw his doctor at
least once a year in those intervening years.  It was a new doctor who
ordered blood tests, got the 20.1 result, did another.  (We found out
the 2nd one was 26.3, a week later.)

Also, his dad died of prostate cancer 8 years ago. Had metastized to
his brain.  I don't think I mentioned that, so I realize the chances of
PCa are even higher than y'all thought.  Perhaps we should have been
more on it, but my husband is sort of passive.  I forced the doctor
change by changing insurance, after confirming his MD was not on the
new plan.  He did not like his old Dr but would not change.  It is a
balancing act; I do not want to be pushy and run his life, although I
now wish I had been more forceful than suggesting physicals every so
often but letting it go.  What do you do?  Be a bitch, or give someone
space to make their own decisions?  I would rather err on the side of
space.

We went to Mayo Clinic who did a biopsy on Thurs.  They got him in very
quickly.  Will take a week to get results.  I appreciate Mayo's
reputation, but was not impressed w/the doctor (Bui-anyone know of
him?).  He suggested a biopsy in the next month or so, we are the ones
that said "tomorrow."  Did not do any blood tests, etc.  Did a DRE
which confirmed the GP's assessment of a normal prostate.

Thank you all again for your comments.  It is very helpful and
supportive.

Oh, I forgot.  Do y'all think sex is better (to clear out the blood
from the biopsies) or more of an irritant after the biopsy?

He lost count after 12 needles, so obviously they did more than that.
It was an excrutiating experience.  They refused to give him valium or
anything at all before hand, and immediately began biopsy-ing after the
local shot; however it probably didn't make much difference since each
biopsy was as painful as the others.  Why don't they give something for
pain?

I have tried to reply 3 times; I hope they don't all show up at once.

We live in Prescott, AZ.  Someone in Yavapai County would be nice.  The
prostate_cancer_institute has this doctor about an hour away:  Alex
Horchak.  Anyone know him?  He does cyro so that might be good for a
2nd opinion.

We have pretty good insurance, for ex they cover Mayo Clinic &
hospital.  Thank God for that blessing.  He has disability if he needs
it.

I have ordered books, including Patrick Walsh's.  To tell the truth,
though, I don't feel like I'll ever get on my feet with this.

He had a biopsy on Thurs, results in a week.  We went to Mayo Clinic in
Scottsdale.  He lost count after 12, so I guess they did plenty.
Wasn't too impressed with the Dr, he didn't do any bloodwork or
anything.  Kept reassuring we didn't know it was cancer, good, but
didn't bother to check anything else out.  So either he thought it was
probably cancer and didn't say that, or I don't know what.  He said
other things like cysts or bladder stones could cause a high PSA but
then he didn't check for any of those things.  Does anyone know any of
the Drs at Mayo Scottsdale?

The biopsy was horrible.  They didn't wait after the novacaine or
whatever it is.  Maybe it wouldn't have mattered, there was no
noticable difference in the pain from the first to the last sample.
They refused to give him valium or anything beforehand.  What was that
about?  He's not getting any more biopsies in those circumstances.

->??  What are the options for pain control w/biopsies?
->??  Also, do you think we should be having sex?  It seems like we
should to clear the blood out of his prostate.  But it could hurt it,
since it is already injured?

My husband went to his (ex) doctor at least once a year, sometimes
more, in that 5 years.  I don't know if he asked for a PSA, but I think
the Dr had some responsibility here also, esp w/the family hx.  He did
not like his Dr or think much of him but wouldn't change, so I took
advantage of a change in insurance to force a change.  Which is how all
this got discovered now.