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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / July 2009The biopsy
I'd like to ask a question please. When I go for a biopsy -- does this pretty much describe the procedure ? Is it done in the doctor's office ? http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/guide/ultrasound-biopsy "...The procedure is performed by a doctor experienced in prostate ultrasound and biopsy. It will last 10 to 20 minutes. You will lie on your left side, with your knees drawn up. The ultrasound probe is inserted into the rectum and the biopsies are taken. You may feel minor discomfort as the biopsies are being taken. A local numbing medication may be used to control some of this discomfort...." : I'd like to ask a question please. : [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] : A local numbing medication may be used to control some of this : discomfort...." That just about covers it - except - the best way to do a biopsy (or colonoscopy) is while under the influence of happy juice. I never felt a thing. Most people don't suffer for biopsies even when awake, but for a small number of people, it is a horrible experience. I'd get the juice.  SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 PSAD 0.19 years EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSAD .056 years Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 and every 4 months there after PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 PSAD 1.4 years Casodex added daily 07/06 PSA undetectable since; last checked on 06/04/09 Illegitimati non carborundum Many of the guys here will tell you that their biopsy (with no anaesthetic) produced at most minor discomfort. And I'm sure that's true. Mine, on the other hand, was excruciating! And I don't think I'm particularly sensitive to pain. Apparently, individual reactions vary and there's no way to tell in advance. So I go with Steve's recommendation: get the juice! Just in case..... fred > I'd like to ask a question please. > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > A local numbing medication may be used to control some of this > discomfort...." That's it in a nutshell so to speak, pun intended, the happy juice was skipped by me in all dozen or so biopsies. It won't hurt to take something though. SignatureBILL P. & DOG >> I'd like to ask a question please. >> When I go for a biopsy -- does this pretty much describe the [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > skipped by me in all dozen or so biopsies. It won't hurt to take > something though. Doctors generally recommend to avoid alcohol when taking antibiotics (which the pt will take before the procedure). Also, Charles may never find out his acceptable pain level if he starts this fairly simple procedure with sedation. The UK has banned the use of "happy juice" (systemic anesthesia) for many dental procedures, for reasons including: it isn't necessary, its side effects range from the certainty of being banned from driving that day to the rare long-term disability, and it costs more. U.S. colonoscopy guidelines are trending towards eliminating "happy juice" for the same reasons. Your bowel has no pain sensors other than for stretching (gas pains); it can't feel cuts. That's why the VAST majority of man can barely feel the needle -- or even a scalpel -- cutting the bowel. One of my doc's patients rode his bicycle to and from his prostate biopsy. I don't do CT's just for the thrill of it, I don't take drugs just for the thrill of it, and anesthesia's thrills are overshadowed by its certain SE, IMO, let alone its much rarer but devastating ones. I.P. It's like going to the dentist - but upside down. The numbing shots might sting a little, but you shouldn't feel the other needles after that. I only felt 1 of 12 needles to the point of exclaiming "ouch"! I recommend counting the needles to yourself so you know how close you are to the end of the procedure. It doesn't take too long. -Rick > It's like going to the dentist - but upside down. > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > -Rick If my dang uro hadn't warned me of each needle jab, I'm not sure I'd have noticed them beyond the general probing. If it were ever to be done again, I'd just ask him to shut up, do his work, and let me know when he was done, so I could read my magazine in peace. I.P. > It's like going to the dentist - but upside down. > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > -Rick If my dang uro hadn't warned me of each needle jab, I'm not sure I'd have noticed them beyond the general probing. If it were ever to be done again, I'd just ask him to shut up, do his work, and let me know when he was done, so I could read my magazine in peace, hop in my car, drive home, and get on with my normal day. I.P. I felt everyone of my 16 sticks. Hurt like hell. Dr. apologized, said we should have done a general. Said one in 100 have excrutiating pain. I was that one. GD > I'd like to ask a question please. > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > A local numbing medication may be used to control some of this > discomfort...." > I felt everyone of my 16 sticks. Hurt like hell. Dr. apologized, said we > should have done a general. Said one in 100 have excrutiating pain. I > was that one. So he claimed. Once again: For some it's nothing; so Mike Freely claims anecdotally. For others it's up to and including agony. As has been written above: There is no way any individual can know. As I have written Bog knows how many times: It's stupid to try to be macho. Get the anesthetic. Insist on it. If the uro won't cooperate, fire him. It's OUR body and OUR choice. There are plenty of uros. Many of them actually care. One thing I have yet to understand: If the patient is experiencing unbearable pain, he is sure to tense up. Doesn't this make the uro's job more difficult and the procedure even more painful? But let's remember, some surgeons are actually sadists who enjoy the blood and the pain. So I've heard. Regards, Steve J The worst part. The anticipation of the proceedure: Most painful aspect....... The best part: Being finished and driving home. john > I'd like to ask a question please. > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > A local numbing medication may be used to control some of this > discomfort...." > The worst part. > The anticipation of the proceedure: > Most painful aspect....... > The best part: > Being finished and driving home. > john I don't know John I guess you could call it the better than best part, the results of your needle investment when it is negative would qualify some where in the equation. SignatureBILL P. & DOG At least I got the news over with! Sick of waiting and wondering.......... Good to know so that you can plan your attack..... john >> The worst part. >> The anticipation of the proceedure: [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > results of your needle investment when it is negative would qualify some > where in the equation. > I'd like to ask a question please. > > When I go for a biopsy -- does this pretty much describe the > procedure ? Is it done in the doctor's office ? > > http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/guide/ultrasound-biopsy ... I thought that was a very accurate description of the procedure. I thought my biopsy was irritating but not really painful. I had no anesthetic. If I needed another biopsy I still wouldn't get any anesthetic. In my case, it just didn't seem necessary. Under any circumstances, I wouldn't want to be put to sleep. As I.P. wrote, the risks of general anesthesia outweigh the benefits. You might ask the doctor if you can try the first needle with no anesthetic and, if it was really painful, if he can inject a little anesthetic before the next needle. I don't know if that's practical but it seems to be worth asking about. I'd also ask the doctor how many samples he will take. It is my understanding that 12 is now standard practice. It used to be 6. If he only plans to do 6 or 8 or 10, you might want to know why. Some doctors do more than 12. Doing less seems to me to indicate that the doctor is not keeping up with currently recommended practice. All in all, cancer is a major occurrence in one's life. A biopsy is a minor occurrence. I don't think it's worth getting too excited about. Alan >I'd like to ask a question please. > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >A local numbing medication may be used to control some of this >discomfort...." Pretty concise description. I opted for the numbing agent as for me, I felt why gamble that this would be extremely painful when for a few bucks (it was not covered by ny insurance agent) I could remove that variable. SignaturePSA @ 45 yrs. = 4.7 02/06/2007 Biopsy 03/16/2007 G7(3+4),T1c RLRP 06/12/2007 G7(3+4),T2cN0M0 Neg margins PSA 07/16/2007 = <0.1 PSA 09/12/2007 = <0.1 PSA 12/18/2007 = <0.1 PSA 03/12/2008 = <0.1 PSA 06/12/2008 = <0.1 PSA 12/12/2008 = <0.1 PSA 06/12/2009 = <0.1 >>I'd like to ask a question please. >> [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >bucks (it was not covered by ny insurance agent) I could remove that >variable. Thank you all for your comments. It makes a medical procedure a lot easier when you know what to expect. Paul says "(it was not covered by ny insurance agent)" Is anybody old enough to know whether Medicare covers a procedure like this ? On July 15, Charles inquired: (ka-snip) > Is anybody old enough to know whether Medicare covers a procedure like > this ? As a geezer, I feel comfortable when saying that Medicare does indeed cover a biopsy. Regards, Steve J > Is anybody old enough to know whether Medicare covers a procedure like > this ? I'd bet Medicare does, but it's getting increasingly hard to find doctors who accept Medicare. It pays them just pennies on their billed dollar, so many just refuse us. I had to pay full price out of my pocket for my sleep apnea device to obtain treatment from a reputable doctor. National health care, my a.s! I.P. >>> I'd like to ask a question please. >>> [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > Is anybody old enough to know whether Medicare covers a procedure like > this ? Yes. The REASON it is covered is that your doctor must request it as "medically required". You can't just waltz in to the URO and say 'stick me'. >> I'd like to ask a question please. >> [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > bucks (it was not covered by ny insurance agent) I could remove that > variable. mmmm, maybe Paul was saying that the "numbing agent" was not covered by his insurance. NOTE: after the biopsy you will pee blood for a few days and there will be blood in your semen for a week or more. This can be alarming. >>> I'd like to ask a question please. >>> [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >mmmm, maybe Paul was saying that the "numbing agent" was not covered by >his insurance. That's true. But it made me wonder how much would be paid for the rest. >NOTE: after the biopsy you will pee blood for a few days and there will >be blood in your semen for a week or more. This can be alarming. Thanks. I didn't think of that. > I'd like to ask a question please. > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > A local numbing medication may be used to control some of this > discomfort...." Pretty much sums it up. I was not offered any numbing agent though. My doc said with a somber face, it could be uncomfortable. It seemed uncomfortable to me too, but nothing that I couldn't handle that's for sure. I was a little sweaty at the end. I walked out, not much of any side effect except for some blood on a towel. I was fine that night. Should not be worse than a visit to the dentist, maybe less worse...Good luck. SignatureEmail: dalej2@mac.com Six years already, going on seven. |
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