How Will I Feel the Day After a Prostate Biopsy?
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Undergoing a prostate biopsy can provide critical diagnostic information to help patients receive appropriate treatment for prostate cancer – if needed – as soon as possible. For some men, the thought of a prostate biopsy causes fear or anxiety, and many patients wonder how long they may need to be off work after the procedure and if they’ll experience any side effects, like sexual dysfunction. At Kasraeian Urology in Jacksonville, FL, board-certified and fellowship-trained urologist Dr. Ali Kasraeian utilizes the most advanced tools and current technologies available today, including the MRI ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy, both to minimize side effects and downtime and to ensure the most accurate diagnosis possible. If you’re facing a prostate biopsy, use the information below to better understand how you may feel following the procedure and what symptoms may mean you need to return to your doctor.
Who needs a prostate biopsy?
Men may undergo a prostate biopsy to detect prostate cancer for one or more of the following reasons:
- Elevated PSA
- Palpable nodule on prostate exam (DRE)
- Combination of elevated PSA and prostatic nodule
- Previously negative biopsy with persistently elevated PSA
How is a prostate biopsy performed?
There are a few different approaches that can be taken to biopsy the prostate. In most cases, a prostate biopsy is performed transrectally – meaning instruments are inserted through the rectum – and a sample of 12 tissue cores is extracted. The tissue is then sent to a lab for examination and diagnosis. While this method is still used, it can produce false negative results due to the random nature of core sampling. For a more accurate diagnosis, Dr. Ali Kasraeian performs the MRI/US fusion biopsy. This method is a two-step process beginning with an MRI to detect lesions in the prostate or areas that are suspicious for prostate cancer. Then, these images are used as a roadmap during the biopsy itself, at which time ultrasound guidance allows Dr. Kasraeian to locate the suspicious areas and take samples from those areas specifically, thereby reducing the risk of a false negative result.
Can I drive home after a prostate biopsy?
In the majority of cases, a prostate biopsy does not require general anesthesia, and patients are able to drive themselves to and from the procedure if desired. Some pain or soreness is normal, but most men can return to their normal daily activities – with the exception of strenuous exercise – the same day or the following day.
What are the side effects of a prostate biopsy?
When performed properly by an experienced urologist, prostate biopsies typically do not result in serious or long-lasting complications. For 1 – 2 weeks after the procedure, patients may have mild soreness, blood in the urine or semen, or bleeding from the rectum, but these are usually mild and resolve on their own. More serious complications may include infection. If patients develop fever, severe pain, or pain with urination, they should call their doctor or visit their nearest ER or urgent care right away. Erectile dysfunction after a prostate biopsy is not common, but it can occur and is often the result of damage to a structure known as the neurovascular bundle. Again, Dr. Kasraeian uses advanced technologies and extreme precision to dramatically reduce the risk of side effects and unwanted symptoms following a prostate biopsy.
Avoid a false negative result with an MRI fusion biopsy of the prostate in Jacksonville, FL
A false negative or indeterminate biopsy result can be frustrating and lead to the need for a second or subsequent procedure. Not only that, but a patient’s cancer may go undiagnosed and delay the initiation of treatment. For the most accurate diagnosis and minimal side effects, consider an MRI ultrasound fusion prostate biopsy performed by top Jacksonville, FL board-certified urologist Dr. Ali Kasraeian at Kasraeian Urology. To learn more about your options for prostatic biopsy, call us today.