Prostate cancer screening should begin at age 50.
The American Urologic Association recommends that most men begin prostate cancer screening at age 50. Abnormalities in screening tests may warrant a biopsy. To relieve some of the anxiety associated with the procedure, it is important to know what to expect after a prostate biopsy.
Biopsy Procedure
The prostate gland is examined by an ultrasound probe inserted into the rectum. Then a spring-loaded, hand-held biopsy gun fires a hollow 18-gauge needle into the prostate gland, and 10 to 12 samples of prostate tissue are retrieved. The procedure generally takes 20-30 minutes.
What to Do after the Biopsy
Continue taking the antibiotic your doctor prescribed for the procedure. Drink a lot of fluids after a biopsy. This will dilute the urine, preventing the formation of blood clots in the bladder. Resume your prescription medications.
What to Avoid
Do not consume any alcohol for the first 24 hours following the procedure. In addition, do not do any heavy lifting, straining, or strenuous exercise for five days, and refrain from sexual activity until 24 hours after rectal and urinary bleeding have stopped.
Short-term Symptoms
Urine will likely be tinged with blood, and you may pass a few blood clots during urination or bowel movements. Bleeding should cease after a day or two. It is also normal to see blood in your ejaculate for several months after the biopsy.
Biopsy Results
Expect to wait up to a week for the biopsy results. A pathologist must examine the prostate tissue under a microscope to determine if cancer is present. According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a first biopsy detects only 75 percent of existing cancers, so a second biopsy may be recommended six weeks to three months later.
Warnings
Call your physician immediately if you experience fever or chills, inability to urinate, blood in the urine that lasts for more than five days, or significant rectal bleeding that lasts for more than three days.
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