I have another post on here at minute regarding my partners upcoming biopsy. I just wanted to ask what the ultrasound is all about. Is this just so the doctor knows where to put the needle? It is completely diferent to an MRI guided biopsy, right? I want him to have the 3T MRI as suggested on here by many of you. I just want to be sure I understand all the facts.
Thank you so much.
Yes - it's just so the doctor knows where s/he's taking the samples from. I've had two, one with and the other without general anaesthetic. No problem except I get retention after a general so had to stay in overnight.
Thanks for your quick reply. He hasn't been given option of a general and to me this would be more preferable. I imagine it would be best to be unaware of what was happening. I suppose it depends on the individual. He had retention after bladder scan not long ago so he could possibly be facing this again after biopsy under general. So basically this guides the needle nothing else. In one way then you could say that they are going in blind as they don't know where areas of concern, if any, are. Just wanted to clarify that. Can I ask if local is adequate for this procedure if he does go ahead with it? I know they have a numbing agent of some sort but is it enough? Maybe an epidural would be an option.
I didn't feel pain or distress with the local / awake bopsy I had. However, we are all individual and I am not naturally anxious so I prefer the awake option. It did feel the impact of the biopsy sampling. Remonded me of the sound of a nail gun, or a stapler for some reason! Also it was somewhat undignified, but I remember commenting that it was a kind of gender justice, as my wife had had much more personal invsion due to pregnancy and childbirth!
I have had two biopsy and both were done with a small shot to the area of entry and a pill to relax me. I would not get the general unless you had to. Can create a lot of issues that are not nesscary. The procedure for 12 samples is about 20 minutes or less. The pain starts with the 6th or 7th samples since the prostate tissues get a little inflamed at that point. By the 12th you are glad it is over. The problem is you usually can heard the small needle punch being cocked just before they actually take each sample, which means by the 12th the sounds mean some pain. There are usually two individuals in the room .. The Doctor taking the samples and the another person handling the ultrasound. Some individuals bring their music with them which is helpful. If not the two individuals usually will talk to you about anything which helps.
If you can get the biopsy done by using 3T MRI, then I would take that route since it gives the doctor a better chance of finding the area of concern and getting a larger number of samples from that area. The ultrasound is almost a shot in the dark method targeting only the areas where cancer is usually found.
Loved that Pepasan...My wife said the same.."don't know why you guys make such a fuss, We get put though this type of invasion very regularly, and as for child birth...don't start me" ^^^
My doctor said he does not do many transrectal biopsies now due to the infections. He prefers transperineal, where he can get at all the prostate and infections are pretty well nil. When he will do a transrectal is when the patient has had a MRI and there is a lesion to target and he will only use one or two needles via MRI guided.
I think in this day and age, the ultrasound might be ok if you live nowhere near 'decent' medical facilities and have no choice. Considering what we are looking for, I would demand the best diagnostic method available.
Maybe I was lucky not to get any infection complications. I was given preventive antibiotics as a precaution, and was fine.
Caz. I do not know where you are located. I understand you are looking for answers. I cant give you much on this site as they work very hard to block us sharing our information. I don't know why but they own the site so they call the shots. So, I am going to send you a personal message and in that I can give you more.
I had one with a local anesthetic and one without from a b***h of a Uro who had misconstrued a letter I had written to my MP who was also the Health Minister with her chief who had just retired permission about the hospital having stopped the Free PSA test due to withdrawal of funding by the NHS accountants. To get one I had to get my GP to do the blood test and send it to a Lab in Sheffield for testing at my expense. When it came back I had to explain the result to him. You know more about this than I do he said.
As she was doing her preparation I asked if she was not going to give me an antibiotic. We don't do that at this hospital she said. Well don't forget the local anesthetic I replied. I don't do that either she said but you can write to your MP about it. That was when the penny dropped, I should have got off the table at that point.
As 16 needles went in I swore at her 16 times. That was the time I started passing blood and clots after it and was kept overnight. She came round later to see how I was and smirked as she told me that she had just been appointed head of urology. You won’t last long I told her. The patient before me had been in for a vasectomy and it had taken her forty minutes to do it and had made two phone calls for advice during it.
She was gone within a few months.
Can anyone tell me if a 3T MRI will pick up prostatitis or BPH? I have messaged three centres in mainland UK who have the facilities. It would be so reassuring if the scan could show that the gland is free from lesions etc but has an infection which is causing the issues. Sorry, I know I ask a lot of questions but just want to be armed with as much info as possible. Thanks all x
Hi Caz,
It's my understanding that they can tell the difference with 3T.
I have had 2, and they both said I had prostititus, and didn't have cancer.
Neal
Hi, The scan shows the prostate and guides the doctor in taking the biopsy samples. The prostate volume is also calculated at the same time. It is undignified but only takes a short time. I had local anasthesia with 3 out of 10 for discomfort/pain. This procedure would not bother me unduly if it was required again. I found the staff at the urology dept at our local hospital were very helpful and mindful that you were outside your comfort zone with this procedure.
When it was over and I was out of the theatre a nurse took my BP. It was 184/**and she asked how long I had neen hypertensive. I said that I was not and she said no wonder it is high after what you have just been through.
Thanks Neal, that's good to know. Amazing the technology we have now. Thank God for it
Caz
Just had email quotes from four different 3T MRI provoders both in mainland UK and Dublin. Great variation in price so far although he would pay any amount for peace of mind. The cheapest being Dublin at E325 and the most expensive just outside London at £1120. Can't believe the difference in different locations. Luckily Dublin is the closest and it seems things will go ahead soon after Christmas. I just want to thank all of you on here, without you I would never have heard of the 3T MRI and my dear partner would have been having a blind biopsy in the New Year, so thank you all.
325 euro sounds like a great price to me. congraduations.
Yes, it almost sounds too good to be true. We are well pleased.
MRI charges vary wildly. Some London clinics (probably not for the one you want) have cheap rates in evenings and weekends. I could not take advantage of them as I have an MRI compatible pacemaker that needs ones who can meet the required protocol.
The 325 euro sounds good...for a 3T MRI. You just hope they have an experienced technician for the images and a better radiologist for the report. Make sure when they give you a copy of the images on a DVD, there is the image reading software installed.
Are you commissioning the MRI or is it via a referral from a doctor? The reason I ask is because the radiologist will prepare a report of what they find. Usually, you do NOT get this report, it goes to the referring doctor. However, if you commissioned the images, make sure they give/send you the report. It might take a few days to be released as it need to be read by a radiologist.
Hi Geoff, he is asking his consultant for referral letter, this is only way it can b booked. Didn't realise that about software, thanks. We get a copy and his consultant will also get one. It's in a hospital department and v professional from what I can see x