Any recomendation on how to make biopsy go smoothly

First thank you all for your input.  It made me realize that I have 3 good reasons (My kids of course!!) to get the biopsy.  However I am still scared to death of the procedure.  Any tips out there of what I should do to minimize the pain and anxiety.

Thanks agoain,

Joe in New York

Hi Joe,

Ask you doctor to make sure you get the numbing gel, and the local. Once you have that you'll be fine, and it will only take about 15 minutes. Are you in the city?

Glen

Joe,
Of you've ever had a root canal you can certainly handle a prostate biopsy.
Be well, Swim

Regarding PSA.

As suggested earlier, size of prostate can affect the reading.

Theory is that a larger prostate produces more PSA which is why PSA "density" is discussed in research into less agressive cancers.

PSA density is PSA reading divided by prostate size.

Density under .15 and free PSA greater than 15 percent are often discussed.

PSA doubling time is also an issue.  For example if it doubled in a year further investigation would be warrented.

Biopsy is usually not too bad. There can be bleeding after which can sometimes last for several weeks.

The suggestion of a 2nd opinion is also a good one. This can also apply to biopsy results which are subjective.

Most important aspect with all this is selecting your doctor, which can make a huge difference to outcomes.

Lee Nelson in his book "Prostate Cancer Prevention and cure" discusses relevant issues of diagnosis, stage, treatment options, lifestyle changes, diet, nutrition, supplements, exercise, and selecting your doctor.

I'm not familiar with locations, but he mentions doctors at Sloan Kettering, Roswell Park, Columbia uni, Johns Hopkins Uni, and others.

John

 

Joe.  Don't let them scare you with all that stuff.  I described it as a staple gun up my butt.  It shoots a fine needle into the prostate to collect samples.  I felt some  little jabs  and it was over in no time.  Think about other things and relax as much as you can.    I had no bleeding I was aware of and no pain.  I drove home and forgot about it.  After a little healing period, I had my surgery.  That was a piece of cake too.  Really, the biopsy is nothing to worry about. 

Joe,

Good luck to you and let us know how it goes. It will be over before you know it.

Hey there! I was scared to death of the biopsy also. I have never really had any type of real illness to deal with. Now I am sort of scared but not rerally of the daVinci prostate removal I am scheduled for October 12. The biopsy is piece of cake. Just relax and do what they tell you to do lay there and relax as best you can. it feels like the doctor doing a digital exam with his finger in you for about 20 minutes. When he takes the samples it feels like some one is snapping you with a rubber band very lightly. NO BIG DEAL. After it is over you will have some blood in your urine and in your semen after sex. You will do just fine with the biopsy. This is a scary time for you I know, but with the help of your friends, family and places like this forum you will be ok.

I had a biopsy last May 16th, and I'm sure there is nothing I can tell you that will help you get a good night's sleep the night before the procedure.  But my experience was this - they got me into position on the table, I said hello to my urologist and the next thing I knew I was in a chair in recovery and they were telling me to get dressed and go home.  The biopsy was painless.  You will see a drop or 2 of blood in the urine for a day or 2.  The hardest part for me was waiting for the results.  My samples had to be sent to a lab 100 miles away, and I didn't find out anything for a whole week.

The biopsy itself is not a thing to worry about.  Take it easy.

If you have a lot of anxiety, ask for drugs to take the morning of.... My doc had me take a valium and a demirol an hour or so before.....they could have driven a truck up there for all I cared!  But I felt fine just a couple hours later.  Hope this helps.....

I had my biopsy last June and really did not know what to expect other then what I had gathered off of the Internet.  My urologist did a poor job of preping me for what to expect so my anxiety was probably the worst part of the procedure.  I did receive the 10 mg of valium that I took 30 minutes before the appointment.  The problem with valium is that it is metabolized fairly quickly.  By the time I got to the office and waited the typical 15 to 20 minutes after my appointment before having the procedure the valium had mostly wore off.  I would recommend that you do not take the valium until you are headed out the door to make the appointment.  The nurse that assisted the urologist did go over the procedure with me before he showed up so I was somewhat ready.  The worst part of the biopsy to me was the insertion of the ultrasound probe.  I agree that there should have been a couple of minutes wait time after the numbing shot as the first sample taken I did feel the needle but it was not any worst then a shot in the arm.  There were 10 samples taken and I only felt pressure after the first one.  I did not have any blood in my urine but there was a lot in the semen.  I used condoms for about two weeks until the semen cleared up.  I believe that your wife would feel better if you do that.  I had a little aching in the prostate afterwards for a couple of days but a little Advil or Tylenol did the trick.  It took a week to get my results back.  The biggest mistake that I made was putting too much emphasis on what the urologist told my wife and I right after the procedure.  He said based upon the ultrasound image that he did not see anything to be concerned about.  Based upon that the next week when I went back to get the results my wife did not go because of a prior commitment and I received the news of my cancer by myself.  Then I had to come home and tell her and it was as if I had to go through the shock twice.  My results were adenocarcinoma in one core sample at a 40% amount and a Gleason of 3 + 3.  I am stage T1c and will be having a Da Vinci on November 1st.

Tamu

Numbing is a luxury. Take it when every you can get! A biopsy is a biopsy IMHO. I wish there had been a way to numb my thyroid to get biopsy samples. Not only is it without numbing, they actually plunge the needles (7) up and down...youch. The ultrasound probe chokes ya half to death and the other guy's plunging harpoons into you as you're half upside down. I suggested a biopsy gun would work just as well and be far less uncomfortable but no one listened :>( Still...I was not quite pain "free" but okay afterwards. Kinda nerve wracking but over with in no time.

Biopsy guns are so much more patient friendly than free hand biopsies. With lidocaine you should be fine.

Good Luck and be well, swim