How Is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?

This content has been reviewed and approved by

Daniel P. Petrylak, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, Genitourinary Oncology Program
Columbia University Medical Center

To detect cancer in your prostate gland, it is key to get a screening that commonly involves giving a blood sample to measure your PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level and/or getting a digital rectal examination (DRE) of the prostate area from your doctor or health care provider. 

• PSA is a substance produced by the prostate to make semen a liquid. A PSA blood test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen in your body. Higher amounts of PSA may be found in men who have prostate cancer. 
• DRE is when a physician or nurse places a gloved lubricated finger into the rectum, examines the area, and feels the prostate gland. During the exam, the physician feels for abnormal shape, size, and texture of the prostate. Although this procedure may make you uneasy, discomfort is generally mild.

As recommended by your physician, PSA tests as well as DREs are usually conducted annually for men over the age of 50. Early detection is important. It can limit the disease or set you on the road to a cure.  If you are over 50, you should have an annual physical examination that includes these tests as well as urine tests and possibly other laboratory tests. 

• Men in high-risk groups, such as African-Americans or those with a strong family history of prostate cancer, should consult their physicians about having these two tests at a younger age or more often.

If the results of the DRE or PSA are unusual, your physician may repeat the tests or request other procedures. To learn more about these other procedures click on the following link.

Additional Procedures to Identify Prostate Cancer