I'm 68 years old. I had my J-Pouch surgery in October of 1999 after 19 years of UC. I was diagnosed in March of 2020 with low risk prostate cancer. 3 + 3 on the Gleason scale. I'll now be going in for my second round of biopsies after an MRI back in January of this year.
Not knowing then, March of 2020, what I know now, I've done a little bit of research.
The stepper technique was used to take biopsies from me back in 2020. Seepage/leakage has been the challenge after that 2020 procedure. I didn't know at the time that there are two techniques available. Free hand is the other. If one technique is used at one surgical center organization, the other is not and vice versa at the other organization.
This stepper technique is done with a general anesthetic, many skin punctures, as many as the number of biopsies needed and possibly leaving with a catheter.
The Free Hand technique has local numbing, two skin punctures and no catheter. Both are treated as out-patience.
I am so fortunate having a choice with either technique at one of the two different health care organizations.
Any thoughts and input from anyone?