The doctor will ask you if you have the above symptoms or not.

Then a Digital rectal examination(DRE) will be performed if the prostate antigen (PSA) is high (This is a protein produced specifically by prostate gland cells and when elevated it can be a sign of prostate cancer).

Features suggestive of prostate cancer on DRE include:

• • – Hard Non tender nodules
  • – Localized indurated nodules on otherwise smooth surface
  • – Prostatomegaly, lobar asymmetry obliteration of the sulcus

Tests to diagnose prostate cancer

1.PSA-prostate specific antigen test

A high level of PSA is a sign of cancer but PSA can be high in other conditions that are not cancer or have an infection

2.MRI of the prostate

Creates pictures using magnetism and radio waves. It can show abnormal areas of the prostate glands. It is used to guide biopsy (removal of a sample tissue from the gland)

Initial staging of the prostate cancer (to check for spread). Monitor cancer (active surveillance if one decides not to have treatment

3.Prostate Biopsy

This involves taking tissues from the prostate gland for examination in the laboratory. Usually it is image guided for example using MRI or transrectal ultrasound to visualize the prostate gland

4.CT scans

Used to check your body to assess if the cancer has spread to other organs. To check for spread in the bones a test called bone scintigraphy is done. A PET scan can also be used to assess for spread to the bones.