Have transrectal biopsies been banned

User

Posted 19 Sep 2026 at 12:17

One would hope so. It looks like they have been in the EU.

One problem not always apparent in research is that the "harm" done by biopsies has to be balanced by the benefit of accurate diagnosis. There is a feeling among men that the unhelpful changes to PSA testing regimes is based on research using data from "harm" from transrectal biopsies which, as we know, is dreadful.

Three of the four men I know with prostate cancer had severe sepsis after transrectal biopsy and my brother nearly died. So banned? Yes, but using old data from research which includes harm from transrectal biopsies does more than muddy the waters, it totally invalidates conclusions and advice based on that research.

User

Posted 20 Sep 2026 at 10:42

Hi, Ed.

I started a conversation on this subject.

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t31758-Biopsies--LATP-or-TRUS--Which-is-bes t

In the opening post I put a link to a recent Lancet article on the subject. In it, it states:

Serious adverse events occurred in 14 (2%) of 562 participants in the LATP group and 25 (4%) of 564 in the TRUS group.

I suspect sepsis would be classed as an adverse event. Although you're twice as likely to suffer an adverse event following a TRUS biopsy, at 4% the risk is minimal.

For three out of four of your mates, plus your brother to all get sepsis after TRUS biopsies seems very untypical, which is why I'm trying to redress the imbalance.

Having been through both sorts of biopsy, the last thing the last thing I'd have wanted, was the sh*te frightened out of me. 🙂

Edited by member 20 Sep 2026 at 11:40 | Reason: Additional text

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Have transrectal biopsies been banned

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