In a biopsy, a small sample of tissue is taken from your body. A pathologist analyzes the sample to check for cancer cells. The main method for diagnosing prostate cancer is a core needle biopsy. It’s typically done in a physician’s office by a urologist.
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How a Biopsy Can Diagnose Prostate Cancer
For a core needle biopsy, the physician uses an imaging method called transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) to see exactly where your prostate is. They insert a slim probe into your rectum. It uses sound waves to make a picture of your tissues and guide the biopsy process.
You may get a local anesthetic to numb the area around your prostate. If you’re concerned about discomfort, ask your physician in advance. The physician will insert a needle into your prostate through the probe. They’ll use the needle to take about 12 samples of cells. Your samples will be sent to a pathologist to analyze.
If the pathologist finds cancer cells, they will look at how abnormal the cells appear. The more abnormal the cells are, the higher the grade. Higher-grade cancers tend to grow and spread faster. Your cancer grade helps your care team decide which treatments to recommend.
Researchers at Fred Hutch Cancer Center are studying ways to use “liquid biopsies” — blood tests — to detect prostate cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body. In the future, this approach could replace needle biopsies.
Your physician may give you antibiotics to start taking before your biopsy. This lowers the chances of getting an infection. Otherwise, you do not need to do anything special to prepare.
The procedure typically takes no more than 5 to 10 minutes, and you should have little discomfort.
Like with any procedure where a needle enters your body, there’s a small risk of infection. For a few days after the biopsy, the area might be sore, and you might have blood in your urine. Some men have slight bleeding from the rectum, mainly if they have hemorrhoids. There may be blood (or a rusty color) in your semen for up to several weeks.
If you have any soreness, you should feel back to normal in a few days.
Getting results usually takes a few days.
- If your biopsy reveals that you are cancer-free, you may still need to do regular screenings. Talk with your physician about this.
- If cancer cells are present, the biopsy will provide more information, such as the grade and stage of your cancer. These details help your care team recommend the best treatment options for you and predict the outlook for your recovery.