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PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: For those getting a prostate biopsy....
First-get your biospy. It's the most important thing you can do to get yourself treated to move past this difficult time. I'm just sharing info on my prostate cancer biopsy experience from a newby.
Things my doctor didn't tell me...
Yes, they told me to expect some blood when you urinate and poop for a few days after the biopsy But, they never mentioned blood when you ejaculate. Holy murder-was that incredibly disturbing. It's a lot of blood too, much more than urination. Goes on for a while too, but gets better over a few days (eventually changes color from bright red to a muted maroon and then goes away) So, be forewarned.
A positive is that they do a very good job at numbing you up before inserting the probe up your butt as you lay your side. They position the probe using a sonogram-like machine. Inside the probe is a spring-loaded needle that you don't really feel much because of the numbing shot, which I wholly appreciate. But, you can totally feel the pressure as they press the probe against your prostate...and then shortly after, they trigger the spring-loaded needle. So, after the first needle jab , I was wincing, awaiting the inevitable spring sound for the needle jab. So, it's more the sound than the actual poke that plays with your head. It's kind of akin to getting a glaucoma test at the eye doctor as you wait for the little poof of air...but, yeah, a whole lot different.
They had me take some valium before the procedure because I not a person enjoys things up my butt and tense up. I don't know if the valium helped or not, but guessing it made things better. Valium didn't affect me much, but I did feel sleepy later.
I'll also mention that I was under the impression that for most biopsies they do 12-15 core pokes. Mine was 24...so the whole time, I was like....OK, no doubt, they definitely know its cancer. Maybe they do more than the 12-15 as standard practice now, but it was what I had read.
Another thing I experienced is that even though I didn't need to get up at night to urinate, pre-procedure, I definitely did have to get up at night after the procedure for a while. I think it's because your prostate is angry after having 24 freaking holes poked in it. The good news is that settled down after a week or two. (yes, I"m fortunate not to have such an enlarged prostate that I have get up through the night).
So, perhaps you all get more info ahead of time...but that was my experience.
Big picture; You need the biopsy to get information because they can treat you and save your life. In my case, they found where the cancer was located and you want all the information you can get.
Extra factoid I just learned: You always hear that the size of prostate is the size of a walnut (20-30 cc). But that is only for men under the age of 30. But, by the age of 60, the prostate typically will grow to the size of a lemon or tennis ball (40-50 cc). In my case, I was 45cc. There's lots of variability by individual. But, yeah, a walnut sounds small. A tennis ball in your pelvis is definitely going to affect things. The good news is that an enlarged prostate does not mean you have cancer.
I figure knowledge may not be power as patients, but it does help you process what is happening.
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I had two 12 core biopsies and one 6 core biopsy. They were all rectal. I had no side effects at all after, none of the problems you describe. They did not give me Valium.. I drove home after they were done, No problems.
Side effects vary considerably.
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6 ReactionsOK-good to know. Glad you had a smooth ride. Mine was much ore bumpy. I wonder if it is because I got 24 core biopsies vs. the 12 you had??
I first had the 12-core biopsy and they didn't find anything. My Urologist was 100% certain I had PC due to symptoms. Then they did a "Saturation Biopsy", lots of cores (general anesthesia).
Yeah, I had those symptoms after that one.
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2 Reactions(First get your MRI; then get an MRI-guided biopsy).
My urologist told me in advance about expecting blood in urine, poop, and ejaculate. But, I had already read about what to expect.
> Recommendation: They shouldn’t be doing anything to you that you’re not already fully informed about.
My 4 TRUS biopsies (that I had during 2012-2020 while I was on active surveillance) always involved using plenty of lidocaine (or whatever the numbing agent is called). During those 4 biopsies, 10, 20, 20, & 15 samples were taken.
For my fourth (& final) TRUS biopsy before receiving active treatment, I invited my wife to be in the room where the MRI-guided procedure was being done. I wanted her to see that it wasn’t as painful as she was imagining. She said ok; the urologist said ok. So she sat in the corner of the room (towards my head) during the entire procedure. She’ll probably never get that image out of her head!!!
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3 Reactions@briang1958
Good call by your urologist. So glad they went back in. And, yeah, the symptoms are nothing compared to what comes next. But, those side effects are definitely a wake-up call.
You should of opted for the Transperineal Biopsy. Still side effects with blood in semen & urine but not as bad. Not to add it's more accurate and less chance of rectal bleeding & infection.
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5 Reactions@fritzo
Were you ever offered your biopsies done transperineally? That is were the go through the perineum not through the rectum like you had. So there is no damage to rectum nor the increase of infection when done transrectal.
Some poster have not problems with transrectal and some have posted horror stories of pain and discomfort. For me I wanted it done transperineally and with anesthesia to quell my anxiety and stress. I felt nothing as was asleep. When I woke up would not have even know I had it done unless they told was over.
I had no pain at all in the transperineally area. I did have some slight red tinges to urine for a couple of times and went away. There was no discomfort or bleeding from rectum because of course there was no damage done there.
Other posters say transperineally allows a more complete access to prostate allowing more complete biopsies of prostate than transrectal but that is from other posters not from my medical doctors.
For me I recommend when you can have them done transperineally.
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3 ReactionsI get to tell a horror story of my first that was trans rectal.
My doc was a real go getter. Good for diagnosis and etc but not biopsy.
He rushed the numbing stuff for my first 7 of 14. That set a new, lifetime level for my pain. I could feel that needle going in like a blunt knife in a steak. Stop?! Hell NO! Then start all over again; no way Jose.
But by #7 I could tell the numbing was starting so #8 - 14 was only bad because I was anticipating the pain that didn't happen.
Second biopsy was done by another docent his office AND done transperineally and sedated. Three definite pluses.
PS brianjarvism, your wife is a real treasure for seeing you through it. She and you have my admiration. Question, has that changed her opinion about the pain of child birth?
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2 ReactionsI've had two biopsies, one transrectal and one transperineally. Both were done under general anesthesia. Their was not much difference from my perspective as far as side effects with blood, etc. No real pain done that way, not sure I could handle the lidocaine method while you are still awake. Both biopsies found some Gleason 6 and I am now on A/S for about the last 3 years.
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1 Reaction@copyman Yeah, I wasn't given options and I didn't know enough to ask about options at that point.
Candidly, it was OK. I could handle it. Now, I know what to expect. But, good to know the transperineal is better.
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