Digital Rectal Exam
As Medline explains, prostate cancer can grow for many years without causing any symptoms. As a result, prostate cancer is often first detected during a digital rectal exam. A digital rectal exam is a test that is recommended for men over the age of 40. With a digital rectal exam, the physician puts on a glove and inserts a finger into the patient's rectum in order to palpate the prostate. A digital rectal exam can identify unusual lumps and growths on the prostate which can be a result of prostate cancer.
Prostate Specific Antigen
As the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders (NIDDK) explains, another test that can be used to diagnose prostate cancer is the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. Prostate cells naturally release PSA into the blood. Elevated PSA levels, along with abnormalities found on a digital rectal exam, can strongly suggest that a patient has prostate cancer. Elevated PSA levels alone, however, do not mean that a patient has prostate cancer, because some conditions (such as prostatitis) can lead to elevated PSA levels. In addition, PSA levels tend to increase as men get older.
Ultrasound and Biopsy
If a patient has elevated PSA levels, or bumps are detected during a digital rectal exam, more definitive tests may be ordered. Ultrasound works by inserting a small probe into the rectum which uses sound waves to visualize the shape and size of the prostate. If any abnormalities are detected via ultrasound, a biopsy may be performed. With a biopsy, a thin needle is inserted into the prostate to get a tissue sample. The prostate cells that are removed using this needle are then examined under a microscope to see if they are cancerous.
