Prostate biopsy

Dear Parky

Thank you for posting your query on our ‘Ask the Nurse’ section.

It is very understandable that you would be anxious about having a biopsy. It would be good to talk to you on the phone about this. A biopsy of the prostate gland is commonly now done under local anaesthetic or short general anaesthetic. It can also be done under sedation. The commonest way biopsies are now taken is through the skin between the back passage and the scrotum. This area is called the perineum and so the biopsy is called transperinael biopsy.  It may be that your biopsy is being done in a different way for example through the back passage. This is called a Trans-rectal ultrasound-guided biopsy( TRUS) .  

Most patients would be given an appointment for 2 weeks later for their biopsy results.

We would suggest that you get the name of the urology nurse specialist and her contact details when you go in. Meanwhile do phone our support line to speak to a cancer nurse. We would very much like to support you during this anxious time and it can be so much better to talk about your concerns. Our phone number is 1800 200 700. We are here Mon-Fri 9-5pm .

Kind regards

Cancer Nurse