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.
One of my brothers says much the same thing.
My father died of prostate cancer and his brother also had prostate cancer but died of something else. One of my brothers had his prostate removed a few years ago, while the other is on active surveillance indefinitely. I've been lucky so far with only BPH (billiard ball size vs. normal walnut), but I'm sure I'll be getting more biopsies along the way.
Last fall I spent 5 weeks with a Foley catheter before getting a TURP operation, after which everything's fine again, at least for now.
Glad to hear that your ablation worked.