For patients who have high PSA scores and are experiencing signs and symptoms of prostate illness, there is a very high possibility that they will be recommended to undergo "Prostate Biopsy". If you are one of these patients who are bound to take this diagnostic test, it is a must that you make yourself aware of what Prostate Biopsy is and the possible consequences it could bring.
Prostate Biopsy is procedure done to establish the existence of cancerous cells in your prostate.A device is inserted into the rectum and a needle is shot through the thin lining which between the colon and the prostate. The prostate is cut and tissues are then taken from it. These tissues are then submitted to the pathologist for examination to confirm the presence of cancer cells.
Medical practitioners would explain the biopsy procedure as a painless, safe, and reliable one. However, most of the patients who have been into this procedure might have experienced any of these noted side effects.
Blood in semen, stool, or urineDecreased ejaculationRising PSA scoresDifficulty with erectionsImpotencyThe side effects may not be that alarming, as these could be normal in nature, and may be gone after a few days or weeks. It must also be noted though, that the Prostate Biopsy Procedure exposes some potential risks which are very dangerous. These are:
Risk of Spreading Cancerous Cells - In prostate biopsy, there maybe a need for the prostate growth or tumor to be excised many times in order to get enough tissues for screening. This repeated penetration is believed to cause cancer cells to spread into the path formed by the needle, or spill cancerous cells directly into the bloodstream.Risk that the procedure may cause very painful and long-lasting infection which results from the damage done to prostate ducts every time the needle goes in. This can inflame an existing infection causing more damage to the prostate.
Having known the side-effects of prostate biopsy, you might now decide on getting into other alternatives which are none-invasive, yet equally reliable. One thing you should remember is that, Prostate Biopsy is just a TEST and whether you go for it or not, it does not help to improve the health of your prostate, nor cure you of the disease.
The thing to do then is to be pro-active. Remember that your goal is to keep your prostate healthy or get healed of whatever prostate disease you might have. No diagnostic test could do that for you.
To learn more about the side effects of prostate biopsy, please click here.