my freind

[gingerflaps]

yesterday my freind told me he had to go to the hospital for some tests for prostate cance, he said he has been bleeding from his rectum, i told him if he had prostate cancer then he would find a lump in his testicals, but he said his prostate gland was in his 'behind'. the docs have checked for piles and he hasnt got them, will he be ok, or is there a chance of prostate cancer?

[Sequin]

The prostate is not in the testicles or the scrotum - it is internal in the bodybehind the penis and is usually checked by a rectal examination - it can be felt by the doctor when then insert a finger, and they can tell if it's swolen or not

They can also do blood and ultrasound test

[Scarlett]

It may not be cancer- there are other things that cause bleeding- such as ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease- so don't jump to any conclusions yet.

[Philtaz]

If he is going in for biopsies of his prostate then they will be taken via his rectum.  It looks quite gruesome but is actually almost pain free.

We have gents who come to theatre for it all the time.  The doctor will usually guide a needle into the prostate with the assistance of an ultrasound machine.  This is usually done 6-8 times, in order to get broad spectrum biopsies.

As Scarlett rightly says, it may have nothing to do with the prostate as their are several symptoms and causes that can lead to rectal bleeding. Has your friend actually been told he is going for prostatic biopsies?  Furthermore, how old is he?  I ask because you strike me as a young person and it would be rare for your friend to have prostate cancer if he is below the age of 40, that is assuming your friend is in your age range.

[sunflower68]

Ginger it may just be polyps.  He may have to have a colonoscopy, where they look up there with a camera, removing the polyps while they are up there.