Template Prostate Biopsies? Biopsies

Infection Anti–coagulation (blood 1 in 100 patients can develop a severe thinning) infection (shaking, chills and rigors with If you are on any medication for a flu like illness). If this was to occur thinning your blood you should tell please go to your GP for some more your consultant when you are offered antibiotics or alternatively please attend template biopsies. There is a risk the A&E. of bleeding when the biopsies are taken. Commonly used blood thinning Pain drugs include Aspirin, Warfarin and Clopidogrel. Aspirin and Clopidogrel Dull ache in the perineum is common, should be stopped 7 days in advance. requiring paracetamol. This subsides Warfarin should be stopped four days spontaneously. in advance. Speak to your GP if you are unsure. Bleeding Bleeding can occur in the urine, ejaculate and, rarely, from the rectum. This will settle spontaneously. If the blood in the Template Prostate urine persists for many days or if you are experiencing passage of clots then we The Trust provides free monthly Biopsies recommend you consult your GP. health talks on a variety of medical conditions and Information for patients Results treatments. For more information visit www.uhb.nhs.uk/health–talks.htm or call The biopsy samples will be examined 0121 371 4957. by the pathologists and the results are usually available after 2–3 weeks. You will have an appointment made to come The Urology Department to the cancer centre (even if there was Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham no cancer found) for these results. Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston Birmingham, B15 2GW UHB is a no smoking Trust Specialist Nurse Office Telephone: 0121 371 6926 To see all of our current patient information leaflets please visit www.uhb.nhs.uk/patient-information-leaflets.htm PI18_1316_04 Author: Richard Gledhill Date: October 2018 Review date: October 2020 What are template prostate biopsy is for known patients with The surgeon will use the TRUS scanner prostate cancer under active surveillance. into the rectum to identify the prostate biopsies? Again, as explained above, we can get gland and then the location of the This is a way of taking biopsies (tissue a greater amount of information about needles within the prostate gland. samples) from your prostate under a your cancer which will help you decide In most cases patients will be allowed general anaesthetic via the perineum (area whether to continue with surveillance or home later on the same day when they between the scrotum and anus) allowing whether to have a treatment. have recovered from the anaesthetic for a greater amount of biopsies to be A third indication would be in some or the following morning. You will taken with greater accuracy. patients where a MRI scan has revealed not be able to drive for 24 hours after a lesion which will be inaccessible for the anaesthetic so alternative travel Is there an alternative? biopsy by the routine technique. Biopsies arrangements will be needed. via the rectum are limited to accessing Prostate biopsies are most commonly After discharge you should avoid heavy the area of the prostate which is closest taken via the rectum (back passage) lifting and rigorous exercise for 2–3 days. to the rectum. If an MRI scan indicates using local anaesthetic for pain control After this period normal activity can be there is an area of suspicion at the front and trans–rectal ultrasound imaging resumed. Alcohol should be avoided for of the prostate, this can be targeted (TRUS) for guidance. Most men will have 24 hours. using this approach. already had this method of biopsy prior to being offered template biopsies. Urinary retention The procedure Some patients will have more severe side Why are you being offered You will be admitted on the day of your effects after treatment. 1 in 25 patients template prostate biopsies? biopsies. The surgeon will answer your may be unable to empty their bladder questions and you will need to sign a If you have a raised Prostate Specific satisfactorily after their biopsy and consent form giving your permission require a catheter. Antigen (PSA) blood test and previous for the biopsies to be taken. You will be prostate biopsies that have been taken to the operating theatre where The symptoms of this are a dull ache negative for prostate cancer you may the surgeon will perform the procedure. in the lower abdomen and a feeling of be offered template prostate biopsies You will have a general anaesthetic (be wanting to urinate but being unable to to sample more of the prostate more asleep) for the whole of the procedure. do so. If this happens you should attend accurately. This will allow greater Whilst you are asleep the biopsies are your local accident and emergency certainty about whether you have taken using a biopsy needle which department to be assessed by the a prostate cancer or not. Template is inserted through the skin in the doctors. prostate biopsies are usually performed perineum (the area between the scrotum A catheter will be inserted into your after a MRI scan which can show and the anus). A metal grid attached bladder through your penis to relieve abnormal areas within the prostate to the operating table ensures that the the symptoms. This will need to stay in which can be targeted at time of biopsy. needles are inserted into the correct area place for a few weeks until the prostate A second reason for offering a template of the prostate gland. swelling reduces. It is unlikely that it will need to stay in longer than this.