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Study Recommends More Prostate Biopsies

By Henry J. Fishman, M.D.
ConsumerAffairs.com

March 10, 2006

• Broccoli Reduces Prostate Cancer Risk, Study Finds • Celebrex-Lipitor Combo May Halt Prostate Cancer • Exercise May Speed Prostate Tumor Growth • Soy Compound May Halt Spread of Prostate Cancer • Obesity Linked to Higher Prostate Cancer Mortality • Red Wine May Fight Prostate Cancer • Enlarged Prostate Doesn't Mean Cancer • Hopkins Researchers Claim Better Blood Test for Prostate Cancer • Severe Form of Enlarged Prostate Disease Discovered • Tomato-Broccoli Combo Can Help Shrink Prostate Cancers • Weight Gain Increases Risk of Dying from Prostate Cancer • Smoking Linked to Complications in Prostate Cancer Treatment • Newer Approach Urged in Screening for Aggressive Prostate Cancer • Aspirin May Prevent or Delay Enlarged Prostate • Hopkins Researchers Find Better Blood Test for Prostate Cancer • Prostate Radiation May Cause Problems Later • New Test Detects Prostate Cancer Spread Earlier • Castration May Be Advised in Advanced Prostate Cancer • Radiation Therapy May Be Best for Younger Prostate Cancer Patients • Study Recommends More Prostate Biopsies • Delayed Surgery May Be OK for Some Prostate Cancer Patients • Study: PSA Test Doesn't Improve Prostate Cancer Survival Rate • Prostate Cancer Genes Identified • Annual Prostate Cancer Screening Test Appears to Save Lives • FDA Panel Rejects Prostate Cancer Pill • PSA Test Still Useful, Hopkins Study Finds • No "Normal" PSA Level: Study • New Prostate Cancer Test Shows Promise • Lifestyle and Diet May Stop or Reverse Prostate Cancer Progression

Doing twice the number of prostate biopsies could save lives, according to an article published in the journal Urologic Oncology.

In a biopsy, urologists insert a needle into the prostate to get tissue to check out whether or not you have prostate cancer. We usually do six small biopsies.

According to the researchers, increasing the number to 12 does a better job. Current biopsy techniques miss one out of seven tumors. Adding more biopsies -- increasing the number to 12 -- increases the pick-up rate by nearly 14 percent.

Now doctors are still split on what to do about the biopsy issue. Some say, early detection saves lives so do more biopsies.

Others say that while a few early tumors can spread, most don't cause trouble. Picking up tumors early could lead to excessive treatment and difficulties -- for example, impotence or problems from radiation.

Until the issue is settled, talk to your doctor about how many biopsies you need. Have a check-up and PSA test regularly and discuss the biopsy issue.

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