| If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, | | | | any medications prior to the procedure. For more info |
| you want to make sure the diagnosis is completely | | | | see on enlarged prostate. |
| accurate so that you can pursue the right type of | | | | Â- Determining the type of prostate biopsy |
| treatment. One of the best ways of determining | | | | procedure: Before your appointment, your doctor will |
| whether or not you have prostate cancer is with a | | | | have already determined which procedure is right for |
| prostate biopsy procedure. This procedure is the | | | | you. There are several different biopsy procedures |
| most thorough way of detecting cancer cells, even | | | | that can be done. The most common is the needle in |
| at its earliest stages. The goal behind a prostate | | | | the perineum. A needle in inserted and cells are taken |
| biopsy procedure is to take a small amount of tissue | | | | for examination. About 6-12 samples are taken. This |
| from the area and examine it to see whether or not | | | | procedure takes about 20 minutes and there are little |
| cancer cells are present. Here is how a prostate | | | | to no difficulties from the procedure. Other common |
| biopsy procedure is performed. | | | | procedures are the needle in the rectum and the |
| Â- Preparing for the biopsy: The first thing that you | | | | cytoscopy. |
| will do before you have a prostate biopsy procedure | | | | Â- Care after the procedure: Depending on which |
| is to prepare for the medical test. By now you have | | | | procedure you have, your doctor will recommend |
| already had an initial physical examination and your | | | | that you slow your daily activities and that you |
| doctor suspects that something is abnormal. When a | | | | watch for swelling or bleeding. There is usually a little |
| biopsy is performed, it can look at the cells to see if | | | | pain and discomfort, but it should not last more that |
| cancer is present. Your doctor will inform you of the | | | | two days. You should contact your doctor if you |
| procedures before it takes place. Your doctor may | | | | have problems urinating after 24 hours or have |
| ask that you have an enema before the procedure | | | | bleeding, swelling or fever. |
| to clean out the intestines beforehand. The doctor | | | | There are usually little to no side effects of the |
| will also mostly likely prescribe antibiotics. This will help | | | | prostate biopsy procedure except for mild pain and |
| ensure that there are no infections present before | | | | discomfort. Side effects can include difficulty urinating, |
| the prostate biopsy procedure is performed. In | | | | bleeding from the rectum, a lowered sperm count |
| addition, your doctor may ask that you do not take | | | | and infection. |