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      • Be a healthy weight
      • Move more, sit less
      • Healthy Made Tasty
      • Our Kids Our Call
    • Quit smoking and vaping
      • Quit smoking
      • Tackling Tobacco
      • Smoke free environments
      • Electronic cigarettes
      • Generation Vape
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      • Slip on a shirt
      • Slop on sunscreen
      • Slap on a hat
      • Seek shade
      • Slide on sunglasses
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      • Improve your long game
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      • Sporting groups
      • Buy sun protection products online
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Download or Print PDF

Biopsy

Depending on the results of the MRI scan, your urologist may suggest a biopsy to remove tissue samples from the prostate. They will explain the risks and benefits of a prostate biopsy and give you time to decide if you want to have one. With specialised MRI scans available, your doctor may suggest you do not need a biopsy.

Learn more about biopsies.

How is a biopsy done?

There are 2 main ways to perform a prostate biopsy, both of which are normally done under general anaesthetic:

transperineal (TPUS or TPB) biopsya small ultrasound probe is inserted into your rectum. An image of the prostate appears on a screen and helps guide a needle which is inserted through the skin between the anus and the scrotum
transrectal (TRUS) biopsythe needle is inserted into the prostate via the rectum

During either procedure, the doctor may take a number of samples from different areas of the prostate and also remove a sample from any suspicious areas seen on the MRI.

What happens after the procedure?

Depending on the type of biopsy you have, after the procedure you may see a small amount of blood in your urine or bowel movements (poo) for a few days, and blood in your semen for a couple of months. After a TPUS biopsy, the risk of infection is extremely low.

There is a greater risk of infection with a TRUS biopsy, but the risk is still low. Your doctor may suggest taking antibiotics before or after a biopsy if they think you may be at risk of infection.

The biopsy samples are sent to a laboratory, where a specialist doctor called a pathologist looks for cancer cells in the tissue.

Waiting for the results can be stressful. For support, call Cancer Council 13 11 20.

→ READ MORE: Further tests


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Key resource

Download a PDF booklet on this topic.

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Understanding Prostate Cancer

Download PDF618kB

More resources

  • PDF Questions to ask your doctor Download PDF185kB
  • PDF Emotions and Cancer Download PDF643kB
This information was last reviewed in May 2024. View who reviewed this content.

Prof Declan Murphy, Consultant Urologist, Director – Genitourinary Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The University of Melbourne, VIC; Alan Barlee, Consumer; Dr Patrick Bowden, Radiation Oncologist, Epworth Hospital, Richmond, VIC; Bob Carnaby, Consumer; Dr Megan Crumbaker, Medical Oncologist, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, NSW; Henry McGregor, Health Physiotherapist, Adelaide Men’s Health Physio, SA; Jessica Medd, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Department of Urology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital and Headway Health, NSW; Dr Gary Morrison, Shine a Light (LGBTQIA+ Cancer Support Group); Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Graham Rees, Consumer; Kerry Santoro, Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse Consultant, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; Prof Phillip Stricker, Chairman, Department of Urology, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, NSW; Dr Sylvia van Dyk, Brachytherapy Lead, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC.

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