Once someone is diagnosed with prostate cancer and the doctor feels that they need to investigate and determine exactly what is occurring a prostate cancer biopsy may be in order. If this is the next step then it is very helpful to understand the biopsy process and what the doctor is looking for.

When a person undergoes a biopsy it simply means that the physician will be extracting a small sample of the tissue in the prostate gland. These cells will be examined in great deal once the tissue sample is received in the laboratory. A microscopic examination is needed to determine exactly what cells are present and what type of malignancy is present.

Laboratory technicians with special training will receive the small tissue sample the doctor recovers when performing a cancer biopsy. Then they will check the sample to see if there are any malignant cells. The tissue cells that are positive for prostate cancer have different shapes and structures from normal cells.

In some cases a cancer biopsy can even return very good news for the patient because there may be no evidence of any type of cancerous process. Even though a patient may have significant signs and symptoms that indicate cancer of the prostate, false positive tests do occasionally occur. A prostate biopsy is a definitive way to either diagnose, or rule out, this type of malignancy.

There are a few important guidelines that a patient will need to follow shortly before they are scheduled to have a cancer biopsy performed. Patients are asked to refrain from taking any anti-inflammatory drugs for several days before their procedure is scheduled. This will help reduce the risk of any post- biopsy bleeding at the site where the tissue sample is obtained.

If a trans-rectal prostate cancer biopsy is ordered the patient will have an enema shortly before the procedure. The enema will clean the rectum and lower colon and eliminate any gasses or fecal matter that may be present.

Understanding the 3 Types of Prostate Cancer Biopsy Procedures

If you are scheduled for a prostate cancer biopsy you will have one of 3 techniques performed. Each biopsy procedure will require multiple, tissue samples so that any malignant cells will not be inadvertently overlooked. These 3 biopsy procedures for the diagnosis of prostate cancer are the:

• Trans-Rectal
• Trans-Urethral
• Trans-Perineal

A trans-rectal prostate cancer biopsy allows the doctor to access the prostate gland through the rectal opening. With the trans-urethral approach a cystoscope is inserted into the urethral opening and the prostate gland is able to be visualized so that the biopsy can be performed easily. With the trans-perineal approach a tiny surgical incision is made into the perineal tissue between the penis and the anus. Then the physician has direct access to the prostate gland and can perform the prostate cancer biopsy. Of all of the different procedures listed the one that generally requires the use of a general anesthesia.