Biopsy for prostate cancer

A biopsy for prostate cancer is a procedure in which several samples of tissue are taken and then examined under the microscope to assess whether cancerous cells are present.

You will be asked to lie down on your left side and be given a local anaesthetic to reduce discomfort. An ultrasound probe will be placed in your rectum. The probe contains a number of very fine needles which are used to take the tissue samples.

You will feel a slight jolt when the needle is fired, but the procedure is usually uncomfortable rather than painful.

After the test, you will be given antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection and will return home. It is important that you drink a lot of water to flush out the small amount of blood from the prostate and guard against infection. The results of a biopsy are available within days.

Harley Street Urology also offers a new type of biopsy for prostate cancer, called the template biopsy, or prostate mapping. This is a very accurate procedure which is particularly helpful for men who have had repeated negative biopsies but there are concerns that significant disease is present. For the majority of men, a standard biopsy for prostate cancer is sufficient to assess risk and disease, but for those with the risk of undiagnosed disease, the template biopsy for prostate cancer offers a new and important type of assessment.