How do I get a second opinion for prostate cancer?

How do I get a second opinion for prostate cancer?

Getting a Second Opinion The best time to seek a second opinion is before you start treatment. It is best to begin by talking with the doctor who made your initial prostate cancer diagnosis. They won’t be offended, and they may even be able to recommend a specialist for you to see.

How do you know if prostate is in remission?

Although you’ve had treatment aimed at getting rid of your prostate cancer, your doctor or nurse won’t usually use the word ‘cure’. Instead they may say you’re ‘in remission’. This means there is no sign of cancer. Unfortunately, your doctor or nurse can’t say for certain whether your cancer will come back.

Does having your prostate removed shorten your life?

In addition, radiation can be given after surgery if necessary, with a limited risk of any additional side effects. Patients who choose radical prostatectomy should: Be in very good health. Have a life expectancy exceeding 10 years.

What is the death rate in prostate surgery?

Overall, 53 patients (0.48%) died within 30 days of radical prostatectomy. There was a monotonic increase in crude 30-day mortality with age, from 0.19% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.02% to 0.30%) for men under age 60 to 0.66% (95% CI = 0.2% to 1.1%) for men aged 70 to 79 years ( Table 1 ).

Can you refuse prostate surgery?

Patients who refuse prostate cancer surgery have worse long-term survival, study finds. Summary: Men who refuse surgery for prostate cancer and instead opt for “watchful waiting” have a significantly worse long-term survival rate than those patients that choose radiotherapy, according to researchers.

Is a PSA of 8.5 high?

PSA levels under 4 ng/ml are generally considered normal, while levels over 4 ng/ml are considered abnormal. PSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/ml indicate a risk of prostate cancer higher than normal. When the PSA level is above 10 ng/ml, risk of prostate cancer is much higher.

Is a second prostate biopsy necessary?

Conclusion. The indications for a second prostate biopsy are a low prostate volume and a high number of increases in the PSA level among patients with a PSA decrease at the first follow-up and a low prostate volume and a high number of biopsy cores among patients with a PSA increase at the first follow-up.