Having been on Prostate cancer ‘active surveillance’ for over a decade I’ve had more biopsies than I can count. The doctors have told me that the biopsy ultrasound probe is small, just like a ‘two finger’ exam compared to the normal one finger exam. I can tell you for sure, that it’s more like a football. At least that makes it pointed at the ends, so it goes in easier. I’ve had so many of those that I’m getting as much practice at passing a football as Tom Brady.
I did accuse the doctors of removing my Prostate, taking one needle zap at a time. I was informed that each zap removes only one billionth of the Prostate, so that might take a while.
That said, the latest round of MRI guided cryogenic ablation seems to have done its job, and I may get no more football practice.
A few years ago I had a prostrate biopsy on Thursday. Saturday morning I thought I had the flu. Sunday I woke up with chills and basically felt like I was going to die. I finally figured out what was going on. Called the urologist and they said go immediately to the ER. I did. Spent the day getting antibiotics through every orifice available. Almost admitted. Now I’m on the road to having to do another biopsy. Don’t think I’m going to participate this time. If I die of prostrate cancer that’s just the way it is.
A Prostate biopsy is one thing I will not be repeating in this lifetime. Shove your finger up someone elses ass.
Yeah, but do you want to undergo definitive treatment (radical prostatectomy, external beam, or internal radiation, androgen deprivation, local treatment, or chemotherapy) without knowing as much as possible about the proven locations and aggressive status of any cancer?
The urologist can now digitally fuse data from MRI, and real time rectal ultrasound of prostate, to aim at suspicious hot spots in prostate for biopsy. Much more specific info can be gleaned from biopsy which helps decide what therapy is probably best. IMHO.