Eventually, every man must face a routine medical check he is probably glad not to remember: a prostate biopsy. While uncomfortable, this simple, if invasive, procedure can save men from one prostate cancer, of the most common forms of cancer among males. An early discovery of a tumor by a prostate biopsy might save your life.
Function
Prostate biopsies are different than digital rectal exams, which are the first step of the examination process. If a digital exam reveals the possibility of a growth in your prostate, your doctor will likely conduct a prostate biopsy. He will retrieve a sampling of cells from your body for examination under magnification.
Process
Prostate biopsies usually take 30 minutes or less. Your doctor will have you lie face-first on an exam table and insert a thin tube into your rectum to render an image of your prostate using ultrasound technology. He will use that image to guide a needle through your rectal wall to retrieve a sampling of cells. While most doctors recover 10 to 12 samples, some may take up to 45 to verify the existence of absence of cancer. Patients are almost always anesthetized for procedures taking a large number of samples.
Warning
Most prostate biopsies involve a minimal amount of pain, but side effects are possible. You may find blood in your urine, stool or semen in the days after a biopsy, but this is a normal consequence and is nothing to worry about. The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute estimates that less than 1 percent of individuals undergoing a biopsy develop severe bleeding or an infection, according to AHealthyMe.com.
Preparation
Your doctor should be alerted to any bleeding problems or allergies to anesthetics before the biopsy, along with your full medical history, including the medications you are taking. You should also avoid taking any blood-thinning medications. Your doctor will also have you sign a consent form proving your awareness of the risks of a biopsy.
Considerations
Even if a prostate biopsy does not turn up any cancerous cells, that doesn't rule out the possibility of a tumor. If cancer is discovered, your doctor may order additional tests, including blood tests, a bone scan, lymph node biopsies, or CT scans. Contrary to urban legend, prostate gland biopsies do not make man infertile or cause erectile dysfunction.
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