PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: For those getting a prostate biopsy....

Posted by fritzo @fritzo, Feb 21 4:59pm

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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

jcf58 | @jcf58 | Feb 23 1:19pm

In reply to @fritzo "@jcf58 Hah-nothing like chit chat as they probe away. Got to make the best of it..." + (show)

@fritzo
I was scheduled to come back for biopsy results 2 weeks out. I wanted none of that. Chit Chat must have worked. By the end of my “probing”, she agreed to see me in 4 days! 😊

fritzo | @fritzo | Feb 23 3:03pm

Chat for the win!

TommyG | @tdgillett | Feb 23 7:25pm

Yeah, your urologist should have explained all that you could expect.
I had my second biopsy last week--1st one was about a year ago. I'm on AS so far; about to turn 80. I'm pretty sure there were 23 0r 24 needle samples taken both times. Because I have a large prostate, I even asked if the urologist could do a few extras this time to cover more of the territory. Lidocaine locally both times; some kind of probe (sonogram?) was inserted in my rectum so the biopsy could be guided. I don't think I'd go for a general anesthesia if it was even offered. Some blood clots in my urine; bloody semen and fading to stained semen over the weeks after. I'm waiting for the results of round 2 hoping for some more good numbers.

fritzo | @fritzo | Feb 23 9:42pm

Yeah, I was actually glad that they did 24 samples. I don't know if they would consider mine enlarged or not (45 cc), which sounds like it is average size for someone who is 63....

Wishing you good news and the grace to roll with the punches!

casd57 | @casd57 | Feb 24 8:12am

They don't tell you.... That when they do the sampling... It feels like and sounds like a Staple gun....yea you know the big silver one .....Click....Click LOL Not to scare you but that is the way it felt in all my 3 biopsies, Thank God with the first one I had a nurse holding my hand, so I didn't want to flinch much (Macho-Man) lol
People no matter what it sounds like feels like its no big deal..and it could save your life.
Ejaculation of blood is probably more mental then the Biopsies....and actually more concerning

jc76 | @jc76 | Feb 24 5:24pm

In reply to @fritzo "@jc76 Way to advocate for yourself and get the treatment you wanted. As far as transrectal,..." + (show)

@fritzo
My running is very limited. I race walk as running bothers my back (old football injury). What I do on flat and inclines I race walk, and slope down I jog. Yep far in the back but I do them to finish not beat the younger troops.

I am in the 75-79 age group. Not many of us there. So when I cross the finish line I get a finish medal. Then at awards since only about 4-5 of us racing at that age I usually wind up with a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, placing in my age group and get another placement award.

I am 79 this year and looking forward to next year as will be 80. Over the years I have done these only seen 1 person in above 80 division. They don't even do a 80-85 just above 80. Guess trying to tell us something about the age group.

As I mentioned many poster say transrectal not an issue for them. Then some real nightmare especially those that got an infection. For me just glad did not have to find out if big deal for me or not.
Take care

fritzo | @fritzo | Feb 24 8:03pm

In reply to @jc76 "@fritzo My running is very limited. I race walk as running bothers my back (old football..." + (show)

@jc76 Run, speed walk, just crossing the finish line. Big props to you for being in the race. Most can't do what you're doing....so definitely something to take pride in.

Infection – that explains why they did the heavy duty antibiotic before the biopsy. Sure wouldn't want to go through that. Safe journeys

fritzo | @fritzo | Feb 24 8:08pm

In reply to @casd57 "They don't tell you.... That when they do the sampling... It feels like and sounds like..." + (show)

@casd57 Staple gun! That's it...you nailed it, so to speak.
And, oh yeah, the whole blood ejaculate, call it mental, sure. I'm just saying I would NOT want to see that in a horror film. But, yes, it's just mental. It goes away.

tmitch | @tmitch | Feb 26 8:16pm

For my experience, I believe the last minute antibiotic shot in the upper thigh was more painful than any of the biopsy samples. It's an awkward situation, but please don't be scared of extreme pain as we assume it would be.
Also research the two ways they do these biopsies. One is through the rectum and the other is through the perineum. Many say the second has a less chances of infections since it's no through the rectum.