Prostate One-Day Clinic : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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This page explains what you can expect during your appointment in the Prostate One-Day Clinic. If you have any questions about your appointment, please contact one of our prostate clinical nurse specialists (CNSs).

The Prostate One-Day Clinic allows you to have the necessary tests and see different healthcare professionals in one day. This helps you to get your diagnosis faster and avoids the need for multiple hospital visits.

Your GP will have talked to you about how this clinic can help you. Many patients are referred because of raised PSA levels in their blood.

PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen. It is a protein produced by the prostate. All men have a small amount of PSA in their blood and the levels usually increase with age.

A raised PSA level may mean that you have a problem with your prostate. This could be:

A prostate or urine infection
Inflammation of the prostate
An enlarged prostate
Sometimes, prostate cancer.

You will have two appointments on the same day:

A prostate MRI scan
A consultation with a prostate specialist nurse.

MRI scan

An MRI scan uses a combination of powerful magnet and radio waves to scan your body. It will take detailed images of your prostate gland.

Before the scan, tell the radiographer if you have any metal devices or pieces of metal in your body. These include a heart pacemaker or a body piercing. We will ask you to complete and sign a safety questionnaire to make sure the scan is safe for you.

The MRI scan takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Consultation with a prostate specialist nurse

Please note: You will need to provide a urine sample for this appointment.

After the scan, you will have an appointment with a prostate clinical nurse specialist (CNS). The CNS will:

Explain your PSA level and your MRI scan report
Talk to you about your symptoms
Review your medical history
Answer your questions.

Depending on the scan results, the CNS may also recommend a prostate biopsy.

This appointment will last about 30 minutes.

Some men may have a transperineal prostate biopsy on the same day. This will depend on your MRI results, the consultation with the nurse, and appointment availability. The CNS will explain the next steps if a biopsy is recommended.

A transperineal prostate biopsy involves taking 18 to 24 small samples from your prostate, guided by your MRI images. The perineum, the area between your scrotum and anus, is where the samples will be taken.

What to expect:

A member of the prostate team will ask for your consent (permission) to proceed.
They will give you an antibiotic to help prevent infection.
You will then lie on a couch and have an injection of local anaesthetic to numb the area. You will be awake during the procedure and should only feel some discomfort.
If you also choose sedation to help you relax, tell your healthcare team in advance. You will need to have some tests before the biopsy. You will also need to arrange for someone to take you home afterward.

The prostate biopsy takes about one hour to complete. You will be able to go home once you have recovered and passed urine. We will send the tissue samples to a laboratory for analysis. This usually takes up to a week.

Are there any risks with the prostate biopsy?

The biopsy is generally safe, but as with any procedure, there are some risks. These include:

Pain or discomfort for one to two days after the biopsy.
Urine infection. You will take a course of antibiotics to lower this risk. Very rarely, the infection can lead to septicaemia (a blood infection) which may require an emergency treatment.
Bleeding at the biopsy sites.
Blood in your pee or semen. Your semen can be pink or brown for six to eight weeks.
Temporary impotence caused by bruising. This usually lasts a few weeks.

It’s important that you drink 2 litres of fluids a day for the first few days. This can reduce the risk of urine infection and clear blood from your urine and semen. If symptoms persist or you are worried, contact the prostate CNSs or your GP.

Go to your local Emergency Department (A&E) if you experience any of the following:

High temperature, fever or shivers
Difficulty passing urine, or needing to pee more often or urgently
Heavy bleeding in your urine or stool
Signs of an allergic, such as:
- rash or hives
- wheezing
- runny nose
- itchy eyes
- swelling of the face, tongue or airways
- difficulty breathing or chest tightness.

For more information about the biopsy, visit our page 'Transperineal biopsy of the prostate’.

Expect to spend several hours at the hospital.
Bring a list of your current medicines.
You can eat and drink normally throughout the day.
If you had sedation for your biopsy, arrange for someone to take you home.
If you did not have a biopsy or had it with local anaesthetic only, you can drive afterward.

If you had a biopsy, you will have a telephone appointment within two weeks to discuss the results and next steps.
If you need a biopsy but you didn’t have it on the day, it will be scheduled within two weeks.
You may be discharged back to your GP or referred to the Urology Clinic to see a doctor.

The CNS will explain your follow-up plan during your consultation.

Prostate clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Telephone: 07984 391126

Email: uclh.prostatecancercns@nhs.net

Prostate UK

Provides prostate cancer information and support.

Telephone: 0800 074 8383

Website: prostatecanceruk.org.uk

Macmillan Cancer Support

Provides support and information on the practical, social and financial effects of cancer for patients and those close to them.

Tel: 0808 808 00 00

Website: macmillan.org.uk