Trusted Prostate Cancer Tests
What is a 'digital rectal exam'?
The digital rectal examination involves the palpation of the prostate through the rectum with a gloved finger. The digital rectal examination was the basic way by which prostate cancer was detected from the earliest times. The problem was that men did not commonly go to their doctor for this exam, and by the time that it could be palpated on this exam, it tended to be a more advanced disease.
What is a digital rectal exam looking for during a prostate cancer test?
During this exam, with the gloved finger inserted into the rectum, the doctor is palpating the prostate. He's noting the size of the gland, the consistency, are there any hard spots, or is the gland mobile or fixed. All of these factors may be something that is used to determine whether infected is a prostate cancer.
What is a 'prostate-specific antigen' or PSA?
A prostate-specific antigen is a blood test that is used to detect this chemical in the body. We've discovered this particular antigen, or chemical, is associated with the prostate, but it also tends to be higher in the presence of prostate cancer.
What is a 'prostate biopsy'?
A prostate biopsy involves utilizing an ultrasound machine to guide a needle to specific sites of the prostate to obtain tissue samples to determine if there is prostate cancer. Generally there's no ill-lasting effects of such a biopsy.
What is a 'perineal biopsy'?
Most commonly a Perineal Biopsy is obtained by inserting an ultrasound probe into their rectum and using that to guide the needle to the prostate. In certain cases particularly for example, if a man has had colon surgery where the rectum has been surgically closed, then a needle may be inserted through the perineum. Which is the space between the rectum and scrotum.
