The prostate is beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. It’s a walnut-shaped gland that surrounds part of the urethra. (That’s the tube that carries pee and semen out of the penis). Here’s what it does:
If it gets too big, your prostate can block pee from passing through the urethra and out the penis
Your doctor may order a biopsy if your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level in your blood work is elevated or if there is an abnormal lump found during a digital rectal exam. During a digital rectal exam, your doctor inserts a finger up your bottom to feel if your prostate is enlarged or has bumps. Another option before a biopsy is an ultrasound. Instead of a finger, a small probe is inserted to take pictures of the prostate.
Once it is decided to do a prostate biopsy, it’s a simple, 10-minute procedure. An interventional radiologist inserts a needle through the wall of your rectum and into the prostate to extract the cells for testing. This is a “transrectal biopsy.” Doctors usually take a dozen samples from various parts of the prostate to rule out cancer.
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