Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men.
It affects one in three American men during their lifetime. By the age of 50, many men start to get screened, usually undergoing a PSA test.
During this screening, if it seems that an individual has the possibility of cancer, they recommend a biopsy.
This is to confirm whether cancer is present, as to make a prostate cancer diagnosis and determine the aggressiveness of the disease.
But, mounting evidence suggests that a prostate biopsy can have several negative side effects.
This article will discuss the safety of undergoing a prostate biopsy and the 5 side effects that could affect your quality of life.
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What is a prostate biopsy?
A prostate biopsy is a procedure to detect prostate cancer. They remove small samples of the prostate and then observed them under the microscope.
Doctors usually recommend a biopsy of your prostate gland based on certain findings. One is if your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test results are higher than average for your age.
Another is if your doctor detects signs of a prostate problem during your digital rectal exam (DRE). Although the PSA and DRE or show a possible problem with your prostate, it requires a biopsy to confirm if it’s cancer.
A prostate biopsy involves:
- Collecting minute samples of the prostate gland. The doctor passes a needle through the rectal wall or makes a small cut in the area between the anus and rectum to obtain the samples. A CT or MRI scan is also used to guide them through the procedure.
- A prostate biopsy takes about 10 minutes and is usually done in the doctor’s office. The samples will be sent to a lab and will be looked at under a microscope to see if they contain cancer cells.
- If cancer is detected in the patient, it will also be assigned a grade. The results are available after 1 to 3 days, but it can sometimes take longer.
Side effects of a prostate biopsy
Although one of the most common procedures for detecting prostate cancer, a prostate biopsy has many potential side effects, risks, and complications which we will discuss below.
1) Bleeding
Just like any invasive procedure, bleeding will occur. It’s normal to see a small amount of blood in your semen or urine for about two weeks. However, it becomes a significant problem if bleeding takes a long time or if it gets worse.
One study reviewed the safety of transrectal ultrasound-guided needle biopsy. It found that 58 patients (63%) experienced haematuria and experienced rectal bleeding 23 patients (25%).
Severe rectal bleeding is an uncommon complication yet in some instances can be life-threatening. So, both patients and practitioners should be aware of the risks.
2) Pain
After the biopsy, it is highly common for patients to experience discomfort and pain after ejaculating or urinating. This usually only lasts for a few days after the procedure, but the degree of pain will vary for each individual.
While some may find it very painful, other people only report a slight discomfort. This is because of the injury caused by the needle on your prostate cells.
A prospective cohort study measured the short-term outcomes of men undergoing a prostate biopsy. The participants were asked to complete a questionnaire, measuring the frequency and effect of symptoms related to pain, infection, and bleeding.
The results found that pain was reported by 43.6%, fever by 17.5%, haematuria (blood in urine) by 65.8%, hematochezia (anal bleeding) by 36.8%, and haemoejaculate (the presence of blood in a man’s ejaculate) by 92.6%)men during the 35 days after a biopsy.
Although the researchers concluded that most men well tolerate prostate biopsy, it is associated with significant symptoms in the minority and affects attitudes to repeat biopsy.
Pain is a very important symptom to monitor. Worsening and persistent pain may indicate a bigger problem. If this is the case, you need to see your doctor for a follow-up.
3) Infection
A further risk of having a prostate biopsy is an infection. Surgeons will usually prescribe strong antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection. However, infection almost always occurs.
Research indicates that resistance to antibiotics is increasing the likelihood. In some cases, the result of the infection is that there is long-term sexual dysfunction.
Occasionally, these infections can turn into life-threatening sepsis. This is as needles to detect cancer are passed through the rectum.
As a result, if the needles transport bacteria from the bowel into the prostate, bladder, and the bloodstream, an infection can occur.
A study by John Hopkins researchers was published in The Journal of Urology. It found that men hospitalized as a result of a biopsy-related infection had a 12-fold higher chance of dying than those who did not undergo a biopsy.
4) Acute urine retention
The procedure does injure the prostate gland, causing it to swell. And this makes it hard for you to pass urine.
If the prostate is particularly enlarged (>50mL) or the man has pre-existing risk factors, e.g., a poor flow, a high residual volume or previous urinary retention, then the risks of biopsy-induced urinary retention are significant.
Acute urine retention is a medical emergency, and you need to seek help at once. The doctor often inserts a catheter to drain the retained urine, and it will take a few days for you to recover.
5) Sexual problems
Several studies have found that men develop erectile dysfunction after having a prostate biopsy. In 2015, BJUI International published a study involving 220 men who underwent transrectal prostate biopsy.
Overall the researchers reported an increased risk of temporary ED after biopsy of approximately 5%.
While this happens rarely and should improve over time, the study shows that the effects of TRUS-guided prostate biopsy on ED are probably underestimated.
It is important to be aware of these prostate biopsy side effects so patients can be appropriately counseled. If sexual problems persist, you should consult your doctor.
Types of prostate biopsy
A prostate biopsy may be done in several different ways:
Transrectal method
At the moment, most biopsies are done using a transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) technique. A TRUS prostate biopsy is where the needle goes through the wall of the back passage (rectum).
Perineal method
This is done through the skin between the scrotum and the rectum.
Transurethral method
This is a type of biopsy done through the urethra using a cystoscope (a flexible tube and viewing device).
Transperineal biopsy
Unlike the TRUS Guided Biopsy, this is where the doctor inserts a needle into the prostate through the skin between the testicles and the anus. This area is the perineum.
The needle is inserted through a template or grid. This is a targeted biopsy, which can be target a specific area of the prostate using MRI scans. An advantage of the TP biopsy is that it can now be performed under local anesthesia.
Are prostate biopsies safe?
One of the main issues with prostate cancer screening tests is that they can lead to misdiagnosis and as a result, overtreatment.
Even if you take many samples, a biopsy can still sometimes miss cancer. This occurs if none of the biopsy needles pass through the rights areas. Thus, the biopsy will have a false-negative result.
What is the alternative to a prostate biopsy?
MRI
But in recent years, doctors have found out that new imaging studies like high-resolution MRI and ultrasound can be alternatives to a prostate biopsy.
They have proven to be very accurate and safe. A multi-parametric MRI or a color Doppler ultrasound has a 95 to 98% chance of determining the location and grade of prostate cancer cells.
According to the Diagnostic Center for Disease, an MRI scan predicts and confirms the presence of prostate cancer more frequently than a biopsy.
A hi-res MRI features the most sensitive and specific imaging modality that allows it to produce a very clear picture of the entire prostate and pelvic region.
Experts claim that this is a quantum leap from the blind biopsy approach. It will minimize the need for biopsies, and could potentially save millions of dollars for the healthcare industry.
An MRI will give you a high resolution 3D image of your prostate and any specialist worth their salt will be able to see if there is growth, or if you’re experiencing the normal indicators of BPH, producing more antigens, therefore raising your PSA.
If you line up an MRI for 90 days time, you will be able to ascertain the rate of growth, if any. That will allow you to act accordingly, as you will have a far better picture than your current ‘snapshot’ and you will still be able to avoid a biopsy. Any specialist will be able to see if there is growth or any progress in the area of suspicion.
PCA3 Test
The PCA3 test is another alternative. PCA3 stands for “Prostate Cancer gene 3”, a protein that prostate cancer cells produce at much higher levels. PCA3 leaks into the urine when the prostate gland is stimulated.
Unlike the PSA test, a high PCA3 test can only result from cancer – not from an enlarged prostate, inflamed prostate or other non-cancerous prostate problem.
For this test, you need to undergo a DRE. This will stimulate PCA3 to leak into the urine.
They then take a urine sample and send it to the lab. It takes about 1-2 weeks to get the results. The higher the PCA3 score, the more likely you have prostate cancer.
This test also determines the effectiveness of cancer treatment. The higher the score, the more aggressive is prostate cancer.
Our Natural & Non-Invasive Prostate Biopsy Alternative
In our opinion, a far safer and gentler prostate biopsy alternative is our Advanced Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment (APCRA). This consists of non-invasive blood tests and specialized color Doppler scans.
The variety and sophistication of some of these new blood tests make this a very realistic alternative to a prostate biopsy, especially if you have a preference for non-invasive diagnostics and treatments.
After this testing, you will receive a thorough, 3-hour consultation from a Naturopathic Physician who is also a Professor of Urology and a very detailed, written report of your results to be discussed during the appointment.
He will walk you through the results of his assessment and explain every aspect and each option available to you, while also answering any questions that you may have. Your consultation will be like an educational mini-seminar about the real issues facing you as a patient.
Most urologists will have a preference for the particular treatment that they provide. However, the consultant you will see has no agenda and is completely free to offer honest, independent advice.
He will try and help with any information you need in order to arrive at your decision. But he will not try to sway you one way or the other.
Aside from that, the greatest additional benefits of the APCRA are that it is non-invasive, does no damage, and does not close off any avenues for future treatment.
To book our Advanced Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment please call our customer service team on +1-888-868-3554 who will be happy to assist you and offer any further information.
Conclusion
Before having a prostate biopsy, do your research. Do not blindly agree to a prostate biopsy without being aware of the possible life-changing side effects it could have.
There are alternatives to a prostate biopsy, like MRI and the PCA3 test. These methods are non-invasive and accurate.
Plus, they don’t have the negative side effects that result from a prostate biopsy.
Have you had a prostate biospy? Share your experience below.
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Our Natural & Non-Invasive Advanced Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment (APCRA).
my PSA is in the 20’s I am 73 YO don’t want chemo, Rad, or chemical castration and no biopsy !! I was diagnosed with cancer 11 years ago my tumor was about this size then. . My PSA has been high for years and is pretty stable , goes up a few points and comes down a few points. I know once they get their claws on me I will not have any quality of life.. I need something to slow the process down . I have been taking Total advanced prostrate I’m on my second bottle and don’t know if my PSA has gone down ? Perhaps I should try total health for the prostrate in stead ?
Hi Chet, very sorry to hear of your diagnosis. As discussed in the article, a prostate biopsy can have a number of negative side effects which should be taken into consideration. It might be best to get in touch with our team via our toll-free number so that we can discuss this with you in further detail. You can reach us on UK Tel:+44 (0) 845 423 8877 and USA Tel: 1-888-868-3554. You can also get in touch via [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you. The Ben’s Natural Health Team.
Analyzing prostate tissue after a HoLEP seems like a win win. More tissue is analyzed (the core of the prostate is removed for analysis) and there’s none of that hideous inserting a needle into the gland as with the standard biop. (I had never heard of the perineum method for a biop)
Years ago, before my HoLEP I had the PCA3 test done and it came up positive for cancer. This obviously was false since the HoLEP analysis showed zero cancer.
I foolishly trusted my (long-since prior) urologist and submitted to an invasive prostate biopsy in my about 5 years ago. He blatantly lied to me and said “my PSA (about 3) should be zero.” Out of sheer ignorance (I know now), I agreed to go through with it. Without a word of advance preparation from the urologist, the procedure was extremely uncomfortable and anxiety producing. The urologist never offered even the mildest form of sedation. I literally bent over and took it in anguish until he was done. Imagine a gun-like gas lighter shoved up there, but with a stapler on the end to snap and bite repeatedly at a place you never even knew existed. Then, I was sent home with no instructions as to what to expect. He only said “don’t ejaculate for two weeks.” Uh huh. At home, the first time I urinated, I thought I was bleeding to death and needed to get myself to an emergency room. I called the urologist’s office, and was told, “Oh, that’s normal.”
Since then and all these years later, I am still plagued by “unexplained pelvic discomfort”, and “chronic non-bacterial prostatitis”, any term they use to whitewash the problem I know they caused. Hey guys, don’t ya know, chronic prostatitis is all in your head, according to these urologist quacks who caused it!
Oh yeah, my biopsy results? Surprise, surprise, the “pathologist” was paid several hundred dollars to FIND something from a procedure by a urologist who was paid several hundred dollars to perform a (totally unneeded) procedure. Shazam! He found the smallest amount of possible prostate cancer in the smallest portion of the smallest sample taken from my prostate. Who’da thunk?! The recommendation? Change my body dramatically and give up my sex life by having my prostate ripped out on the 2-4% chance that what they found is gonna break bad. Oh, and the surgery costs $50,000…. details.
Thank God, a good friend and young urologist took one look at my biopsy and said “This will never impact your life.”
BTW, I’ve noticed only recently are urologists hinting at FINALLY admitting that prostatectomy ruins a guy’s sex life. No more ejacul,ations for sure (“Oh, but that doesn’t matter”, yeah right…) and truth be told lots of guys, never have an erection again.
Bros, this IS what it’s like. I’m not exaggerating. Feel free to get in touch, if you want to know more about my experience.
Hi Eric, thanks for sharing your experience. Although it was a bad, even shocking one, its good to hear that your friend/urologist advised you before you underwent unnecessary surgery, which could indeed have resulted in adverse side effects, including erectile dysfunction. (We will soon be publishing an article outling the treatment options for an enlarged prostate, so keep an eye on our site for this). Although one of the most common procedures for detecting prostate cancer, biopsies carry many potential risks and complications, as you yourself unfortunately experienced. If you have any questions about screening or about prostate enlargement in general, please feel free to get in touch with our team via [email protected] and we will be happy to help. Wishing you good health, The Ben’s Natural Health Team.
How can you carried out test to determined postrate lever a person has through MRI or PCA3 without physically present.Maybe he can send some sample for test.
Hi Joseph, thanks for getting in touch. Tests such as an MRI and PCA3 generally need to be performed in a doctor surgery. You can discuss other options with your doctor. The Ben’s Natural Health Team.
Ben,
Thank You. A very timely article for me. During my July physical my PSA was 6.24.My doctor was going to send me to the Urologist for a biopsy right away , I believe.I convinced him to do an MRI first. Unfortunately, they found a 1.79 mm lesion, so now I have to see the Urologist this Tuesday, August 27. I have read your articles, and am going to try to convince him to do The PCA3 or maybe the color doppler ultrasound you mention in the above article. I also have a few other articles from you and others on the subject to explain to him why I don’t like the idea of him basically shoving a needle inside of me and going on “a fishing trip”. I have purchased your last two prostate books, and found them to be very informative.
Thanks
Hi Brian, sorry to hear that, but good to hear that you are trying to avoid invasive procedures. Thank you for the great feedback, it is good to hear that you are finding both our books and articles informative. If you have any further questions about screening, please feel free to get in touch with our team via our toll-free number UK Tel:+44 (0) 845 423 8877, USA Tel: 1-888-868-355, we will be happy to help. Wishing you good health, The Ben’s Natural Health Team.
I just cancelled my biopsy that I was being forced to take for preliminary investigation for High Intensity Frequency Ultrasound (HIFU) . Used extensively in Europe and will be approved for use in the US in 2021, not sure of the date but Medicare now has a code. I was seeking direction from God when I was led to read the report on Prostate Cancer biopsies that I had in my inbox since late August. I called the my urologist and asked him for a two day extension so I could fast and pray. I was told to make up my mind then and there so I told them to cancel my appointment.
I was diagnosed with PC in Feb of 2007 with a Gleason 6. 25% of one core positive in 8 samples. Only 8 samples because I had not planned the biopsy and after 8 samples I told my urologist to stop ( no sedatives). My PSA at the time was 4.2 and with a severe diet got it down to 3.2 but could not maintain the diet. I switched to mostly vegetarian and for about a 18 month period ate all raw sprouted vegetables. Now my PSA is just over 16 and was as high as 21. Have had at least one high resolution MRI yearly to status my condition along with the PSA and DRE (internal exam). Last MRI was done in January of this year that showed stability from the previous year with a RAD 4 reading. MRI performed at Univ of Miami that has the latest 3T MRI machine.
I have had several consultations for Proton Therapy treatment and again I am being pressured into a biopsy before treatment.
I have avoided treatment now for over 12 years and really do not want to take conventional treatment. Next year I will be 70 years old and thank God I am in good health without the aid of any prescriptions.
I will be taking another MRI in January and pray to God that I am not burying my head in the sand. Not sure where to go from here. I give presentations on PC to help men understand the necessity of taking care of themselves and the high risk of PC. I provide them with the popular conventional treatments and the ensuing side effects without any guarantee of being cured. I talk about potential root causes of the disease, effect of diet, obesity etc.
Will continue to monitor my condition. My strategy 12 years ago was to manage the disease until a less invasive treatment was available. But so far nothing really encouraging on the immediate horizon. Blessings to all.
Hi Howard, thank you for getting in touch. We are pleased to hear that watchful waiting has worked for you all through these years. It is a very smart way of dealing with prostate cancer compared to treatments available that are invasive and can compromise your way of life.
Had we talk 12 years ago, I will give you the same recommendation — avoid biopsy at all costs because of the side-effects and the potential risks of spreading cancer out of your prostate. I do not recommend invasive treatments also despite the technology and how modern medicine has become.
You are doing a fantastic job monitoring your condition— at your age, you are really in good health, information, discipline is really important not just for your prostate but for your overall health as well.
In my opinion, I honestly believe that you will benefit from taking our advanced formula of Total Health and Rejuvenayte plus, this particular supplement is clinically formulated to stop and kill cancer cells. With the combination of your diet and lifestyle, I am certain that it would work you wonders.
If you wish to discuss further, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. We would like to hear more about your story. Blessings to you.
The last reading of my PSA was 31. Sometimes later, I had problem of difficult urination which resulted into the use of catheter for about 38 days. On the day it was removed, fluid was poured through my penis to the bladder. The Doctor was satisfied with the volume of the pee I released. He then placed me on Flomax which I used for about four months now. This was when I went to the US. Now back in Nigeria, another Doctor advised that I redo my PSA and was opining that I will have to redo biopsy. I did biopsy July 2018, the result was negative. However, shortly my PSA rose to 31. I am now afraid of going through the rigor of another biopsy. Before I did the biopsy, my PSA came down from 42 (when I first had the difficult urination problem, January 2018) to 19. Will Total Health shrink my enlarged prostate. I was 72 years on 07-07-2019. I am able to pee with ease. Kindly give appropriate advice.
Hi Abdulkaree,
Thanks for getting in touch with us.
We are truly sorry to hear of your troubles, but we are confident that you will be able to shrink the size of your prostate and see a drop in your PSA.
Firstly, it is important that you resist any attempt made by your doctor to go through with a prostate biopsy. If there is any concern that you may have prostate cancer you should arrange for an MRI scan on the latest Tesla-3 machine. This will show you whether there are any lesions present without having to resort to invasive procedures such as a prostate biopsy. It is normal for your PSA level to spike after having a biopsy so I wouldn’t be overly concerned about this, so long as it doesn’t continue to rise.
The prescription of Flomax whilst incredibly common is not the safest or most effective way of dealing with your enlarged prostate. Whilst in the short term it will see a return of urinary function, in the long-term, this is doing nothing to deal with the underlying issue of shrinking your enlarged prostate. It will just leave you dependent on Flomax, whilst your prostate continues to grow in size, and in turn incontinent.
You should look to naturally reduce the size of your prostate by taking our supplement Total Health for the Prostate. This will, in turn, see a reduction in your PSA level. After a couple of months of taking Total Health, you can start to think about weaning yourself off of Flomax. You can start this by simply omitting one dose per week. You can then see how your body responds, and, should you see no adverse reactions can gradually week by week lessen the dosage. Please give our customer service helpline a call on 1-88-868-3554 to get further advice on how you can go about shrinking your prostate, lowering your PSA and getting off of Flomax.
Wishing you good health, The Ben’s Natural Health Team
Ben: You forgot one method of bioping the prostate. After a HoLEP the removed tissue is analyzed for cancer, far from the body and avoiding any of the negative effects of the usual
nasty biop. Simple. Yes, one would have to have the HoLEP before this method.
Thank you, for the information.
Hi Robert, no problem at all! We are glad that you are finding it informative.
Hello to all! During the summer of 2019, I took a PSA and the results came back at 4.6. That was a tremendous increase from 2.6/2.9 the year before. On December 29th, 2019, my PSA dropped to a 4.2. At that time, my urologist ordered an MRI. Long story short, I delayed the MRI because I wanted to give some of Bens Natural Health supplements a try. Well I began taking Total Health for The Prostate and Prostate Healer (the liquid) for about 2 months before I went for my MRI which was at the end of May (27th) of 2020. On June 17th, the urologist stated that nothing showed from the MRI. They were looking for possible prostate cancer from the discussion. However, the urologist stated because I am relatively young (54 years, 55 in August) and I am African-American they want to be able to rule out the cancer. They in turn recommended (highly) a biopsy. Well, they could look at my face and see that I wasn’t in favor of the biopsy, especially after reading this article. Well, before I left the appointment, we all thought it would be best if I took another PSA. So, I did on that same day, June 17th. On June 19th, I was called with the results. My PSA had now dropped to a 3.5. The urologist stated that was the limit for my age and that because it was a 3.5. They would be ok with me holding off on the biopsy. They did recommend that I take a PSA twice a year rather than once a year. So I will go back in December. They are still concerned about my “K Score” or something like that, which I stated was 9% and it should be at 4% was also very high.
I made suggestions based on knowledge gained from this website. I suggested the DRE; they said that was done. Of course the MRI was done. I recommended the PCA3, which they said they don’t do anymore or its not done.
The Total Health and the Prostate Healer has done well for me so far. What else would you recommend for the prostate cancer screening as they stated the MRI is not a 100% according to the doctor.
Please help
The PCA3 test will indicate risk, but you can skip that if you’re able to get an MRI which is more reliable at detecting PC or BPH. If you’re clear that you wish to avoid any sort of invasive surgical intervention and you want to look at options, I think that will help. The MRI will give you a high-resolution 3D image of your prostate and any specialist will be able to see if there is growth or you are just experiencing the normal indicators of BPH, producing more antigens, therefore, raising your PSA. If you would like to rule out prostate cancer, you can line up for an MRI every 90 days to see if there is growth and you will be able to ascertain the rate of growth, if any. That will allow you to act accordingly, as you will have a far better picture than your current ‘snapshot’ and you will still be able to avoid a biopsy.
53 year old, had my 3rd biopsy beginning on may , still no growth. A weird side effect this time, not seen anyone else comment on this so.. my amount of ejocalate is 6 times the amount it was and has been for probably 15 years. Not complaining but it is weird right. I’m talking about every day my prostrate is making a lot of seminal fluid.
Hi Tim, Hyperspermia is a condition in which a man produces a larger than normal volume of semen. Semen is the fluid a man ejaculates during orgasm. It contains sperm, along with fluid from the prostate gland. Having hyperspermia doesn’t negatively affect a man’s health.
We are not in favor of invasive procedures like a biopsy because it imposes certain risks. You may have an MRI which will give you a high resolution 3D image of your prostate and any specialist will determine if you have BPH, prostatitis, or cancer. If you have any further questions please contact us via [email protected]
Had my third biopsy June 2020; now september; still experiencing dark ejaculate(bloody?); Is this normal or should I be concerned and seek my urologist ?
Hi Delbert, thanks for getting in touch. It’s common to notice red or rust coloring in your semen after a prostate biopsy. This indicates blood, and it’s not a cause for concern. Blood in your semen may persist for a few weeks after the biopsy. However, given that its been several months you should speak with your urologist. The Ben’s Natural Health Team.
Prostate cancer screening and early detection does NOT saves men’s lives. Let’s do the math. Per the USPSTF (a US government health agency): “A small benefit and known harms from prostate cancer screening” and “Only one man in 1,000 could possibly have a life saving benefit from screening”. However about 1.3 to 3.5 deaths per 1,000 from prostate blind biopsies. Also 5 men in 1000 died and 20.4% had one or more complications within 30 days of a prostatectomy. This does not include deaths and injuries from other procedures, medical mistakes, increased suicide rate, ADT therapy complications, heart attracts, etc, caused by screening and treatments. Detection and overtreatment for prostate cancer has killed or destroyed millions of men’s lives worldwide from understated and multiple undisclosed side effects. The doctor that invented the PSA test, Dr. Richard Ablin now calls it: “The Great Prostate Mistake”, “Hoax” and “A Profit Driven Public Health Disaster”.
My story: http://www.yananow.org/display_story.php?id=1659
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYii98gcejA https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/UpdateSummaryFinal/prostate-cancer-screening1
https://medium.com/@drsadeghi/early-detection-disaster-4d4740ee5828 https://urologyweb.com/
https://urologyweb.com/uro-health-blog/ https://grossovertreatment.com https://medium.com/@bvorstman/is-psa-testing-for-prostate-cancer-bad-health-advice-7199618e56c5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IHE9jdCpn4
Recommended books:
The Great Prostate Hoax by Richard Ablin MD (the inventor of the PSA test)
The Big Scare, The Business of Prostate Cancer by Anthony Horan MD.
A 12 or 18 core blind biopsy, holey prostate! One million dangerous prostate blind biopsies are performed in the USA each year and they should be banned: Invasive, dangerous, degrading and unnecessary. Men with a high PSA tests result are often sent to a urologist for a blind biopsy. This technology is (obsolete) 30 years old. Would you use a cell phone or drive a car that was designed 30 years ago? Blind prostate biopsy cost in the USA is at least $3 billion annually. False positives and false negatives can occur. Men should be told about other options; Percent free PSA test, 4Kscore test, PCA3 test or a 3T MRI test before receiving a blind biopsy. These tests can often eliminate the need for a risky and invasive blind biopsy. Unfortunately, sometimes insurance companies may not pay for other tests. Insertion of 12 or 18 large hollow needles through the dirty rectum into a gland the size of a walnut, a blind biopsy can result in pain, infections, a risk of temporary or permanent erectile dysfunction. Biopsies can cause, urinary problems, An infection rate of 7.2%, up to a 6.9% hospitalization rate within 30 days from a complication, sometimes even death from sepsis (About 1.3 to 3.5 deaths per 1,000. There is also debate that a biopsy may spread cancer because of needle tracking. A blind biopsy is degrading and can also increase PSA reading for several weeks or months, further frightening men into unnecessary treatment. Blind biopsies are almost never performed on other organs. One prestigious hospital biopsy information pamphlet states: semen color has a rust tint. Another well-known hospital describes semen as: reddish or brown. These statements can be an extreme exaggeration (mostly lies). After a biopsy, a man’s semen can turn into a jet black goo. This could be an unpleasant surprise for a man and especially for his unsuspecting partner. However, if a biopsy is performed before Halloween or April Fools’ day this may be of use to a few men. If some prestigious hospitals are not factual about the color of semen, what other facts are being misrepresented?
Today, as I sit on a grapefruit, I’m feeling torn. Just had my ultrasound guided biopsy… 1 hour ago. There is blood in my chonies. Bleh. My ass hurts. I have had a steadily climbing PSA since 1999, and have seen 6.9. I finally agreed to biopsy, and eagerly await the results. Im two beers in and 2 500 mg tylenol, so please forgive me if I sound pissed, confused, or incoherent. This has been a long journey… When I get the results, I will make decisions required to move forward. I am 61, active sexually, married 39 years, and truly, I am not looking forward to any surgery or cancer treatment. I am interested to know what you guys are seeing with supplements, and I would love some recommendations. Anyway, I’m gonna go play a video game and try to induce a pee with beer. I will pop my late day antibiotic that is required with this procedure, and pray for no infection. Good to see others are willing to discuss this crap. Really good.
I had my prostate biopsy and I have a lot of gas it’s that norma ??if not what should I do thank you very much
Hi Roger,
Thanks for your question.
There are a number of side effects associated with prostate biopsy, including: blood in your urine, difficulty urinating and UTI’s. However, increased gas is not a known side effect of a prostate biopsy, and more likely is a result of your diet. Foods that cause an build up of gas in your intestines include: beans, corn, bread, pasta, cow dairy products etc.
If you are feeling particularly bloated or have a significant increase in gassiness following your procedure you may wish to consult with your doctor as to what the cause of this may have been.
Please feel free to get in contact with our support should you have any other questions, we’re on hand to help.
Phone: (001) 888 868 3554
Email: [email protected]
Wishing you good health,
Ben’s Natural Health Team
So glad I came across this site and a big thank you to bensnaturalhealth.com for providing it. I’m 62 and a PSA of 8.1 and was 8.4 before that. Unfortunately I dont have a record before that. I have been suffering from reduced urine flow for a couple of years now but just dismissed it as an enlarged prostate that comes with aging which may well be true. Went to see a Urologist and surgeon that a 55 year old friend of mine used to ultimately remove his prostate about 2 years ago using the DaVinci method surgery. This surgeon is reportedly very experienced doing this. My friend has had a very good outcome with no issues with ED or loss of urination control. The Dr. sent me for an MRI first which was a great move and to his credit. It revealed I do have an enlarged prostate (3.2 x 4.3 x 4.5 cm = 32 mL if I read it right). It also revealed I have one lesion thats 3.8 x 2.5 cm if I’m reading it correctly and has a PI-RADS rating of 5. Thats not so good. What is good is it revealed no apparent issues outside of the prostate. Lymph nodes and all surrounding tissue looks normal. Next step was a colorectal biopsy scheduled for Aug 10th. After all of my recent research I am now concerned about using that approach and looking for all the good info I can find for alternatives and deciding what to do. If I can have good reason to believe my outcome would be as good as my younger friend, I would just as soon get rid of the prostate and be rid of the future threat from this. Now I am wondering what is really the best move. I no longer really care about the sex life aspect as thats simply not very important to me or my wife at this point in our lives. Maintaining urinary control after recovery and avoiding infection however are very important to me. Looking for all of the good info, experience, and guidance out there and from this community. Thank you all for any wisdom you can impart.
Hi David,
Thanks for writing to us with your question. We’re pleased you’ve found the information on our site helpful.
Our support team has reached out to you directly with some advice about the next steps you may wish to take given your current situation.
Please feel free to ask them any further questions you may have.
Wishing you good health,
The Ben’s Natural Health Team
I had rectal biopsy guided with ultra sound a year ago. ended up a 6 Gleason scale. PSA is 7 now. Now first and second doctor want to do another needle biopsy. I had the usual post biopsy results with small amount of bleeding but also ended up with a curved and appears to be shortened penis. I have not seen that comment before about biopsy I am not happy with either of these results and don’t want to get another biopsy. I am aiming for a parametric MRI instead to check for any spread. Don’t want to go thru the risks of another biopsy. 4K test from first biopsy said non aggressive cancer. Any comments?
Hi there,
Thanks for your comments. We share your concerns regarding prostate biopsy, they all too often come with complications and side effects that can be avoided by using non-invasive diagnostics. Your diagnosis of non aggressive prostate cancer can be handled with the active surveillance protocol, which would be to have an MRI scan at 6-12 month intervals and lead a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, proper supplementation and following a prostate specific ketogenic diet.
For advice on active surveillance, diet, exercise and supplements please get in touch with our support.
📧: [email protected]
☎️: 888 868 3554
Wishing you good health,
Ben’s Natural Health Team
I have had 2 transperineal biopsies. The first one (two years ago) resulted in total urinary retention the following night. Desperate I rushed to the hospital and had a catheter inserted for 19 days which included some extremely painful bladder spasms and leakage between the urethra and the catheter tube. Gleason 6 and 7a. My second biopsy (3 weeks ago) did not give me retention, but a sore blue-black scrotum for three weeks and a very painful biopsy area. I’ll get the biopsy result tomorrow. (Wish me luck.)
Hi Torgeir, I am very sorry to hear about your experience and wish you luck when getting your results tomorrow.
If you wish to discuss this in further detail, please feel free to get in touch with our team via our toll-free number 1-888-868-3554 in the US and +44 (0) 845 423 8877 in the UK, or by email at [email protected].
Wishing you good health, The Ben’s Natural Health Team.
Yes I had biopsy abt 30 months ago, felt I was a but pushed into having one done, as I would have expected to have had am MRI scan first as guidelines by NICE here in the UK, having read Ben’s book informing me of Needle Tracking I was very reluctant, but as I said, felt pressured into having it carried out. The procedure was mildly uncomfortable, and I was diagnosed with a Gleeson score of Grade 6. I have since read up on a lot of information, from Ben’s book, from Prof Jane Plant, and US Dr Gregor, all devising exercise, diet, and life changes, all of which I am now doing, and have done pre biopsy, I feel better than great, physically, and mentally, just a pity the populous are not aware, of the great benefits these changes can make to one’s life, so much more to say on the subject, as I am now so much more aware of my situation, as Ben says, Doing Nothing is not an Option, or, My Life in My Hands, Thanks, Grahame
Hi Grahame, so sorry to hear about your experience with the biopsy. That’s great to hear you’re feeling a lot better with the changes you’ve implemented into your lifestyle. If you’d like to discuss any aspects of your prostate health in further detail with a member of our support team, please get in touch via our toll-free number 1-888-868-3554 in the US and +44 (0) 845 423 8877 in the UK, or by email at [email protected].
Wishing you good health, The Ben’s Natural Health Team.
Thank you for this very informative article, my Brother had a very high PSA score of 22, was virtually given a Prostrate biopsy overnight and was then given the choice of Radiotherapy or having his Prostrate removed. The Doctor(a female one) said that the Prostate removal would almost guarantee all cancer would be cut out, the Radiotherapy might not work, and he might have to come back for Chemo.So cut a long story short, he had his Prostate removed. 6 months later he’s still getting a PSA score, albeit small, so he is told that he has to have the Radiotherapy anyway, which is very unpleasant which he does every day for 30 days. He goes back after six months and again he is still getting a small PSA score, below 1. The end result is he is on Anti Androgen medication, which has all sorts of side effects. Roll on Eight years and although he is still alive, his quality of life is nil.
Now I’m eight years younger than my Brother and our Father had Prostate cancer also, so with this in mind I had PSA tests and my Score was averaging 6.9, just to be on the safe side my Doctor( not the same one as my Brothers) sent me for an MRI scan, and I did indeed get some indicator injected in my arm. The process was painless, and I think back to the pain that my Brother suffered having that Biopsy.Two weeks later I had a follow up from my Doctor, he reassured me that although my Prostrate was slightly enlarged, there was no cancer cells present, and Although my PSA was on the high side , some men do have flexible PSA results, and it’s not always an indication of anything sinister just a guide.So there you have it, I truly believe that my Brother had overtreatment, and I am so lucky to have had the benefit of an MRI scan, which as you say is more accurate and less painful, I would say even less Barbaric.
Hi Ernie,
Thanks for your comment. Your brothers’ experience serves as a useful explanation of the traditional invasive medical treatment process for men with prostate disease. All too often men are rushed into biopsy and given unnecessary health care that often leaves men with problems worse than the one they were treating. Upon diagnosis, it’s important to take a step back and assess the wide range of options available, this way you can avoid an uncomfortable run-in with the medical establishment.
A high PSA reading with an all-clear MRI is certainly not cause for concern. You’re able to get that PSA level down and shrink your prostate using diet, supplements and some simple lifestyle changes. This process typically takes 2-3 months.
For more information on lowering your PSA and shrinking your prostate please get in touch with our support.
📧: [email protected]
☎️: 888 868 3554
Wishing you good health,
Ben’s Natural Health Team
Does MRI need contrast to identify cancer? Thanks
Hi Gyula,
Contrast dye is generally safe and can help the doctor read and assess the results of an MRI scan, it is not always necessary. Your doctor will advise whether it is necessary based on the MRI machine, the patient’s vulnerability to contrast and the body part being examined.
Please get in touch with our support if we can assist any further.
📧: [email protected]
☎️: 888 868 3554
Wishing you good health,
Ben’s Natural Health Team
Thanks for information, persons having the problem of prostate enlargement can judge which is safe whether biapcy or Mri,pca test for confirming cancer presence.
Hi there,
Thank you for your comment, that is our aim and we’re glad to hear you found the information helpful.
Wishing you good health,
The Ben’s Natural Health Team
I had a prostate Biopsy a few days ago. I got a infection within a few hours of it. Fever. I was told by the doctor to take tylenol. It worked for a day then came a worse infection. Then it hurt to piss. Then i could not piss. I went to the loyal ER. They put a catheter in me. So i could pee. And to drain the piss out that was in my Bladder. Putting in the catheter hurt a lot!!!!!!! Even with a pain shot shortly before it was done! And i only got the shot because I knew to ask for it!!! Otherwise my pain would have been much greater!!!!! I believe that all of this was totally preventable! If i was given antibiotics after the prostate Biopsy!!!!!