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Published on: 5/22/2025

What Steps Are Involved in Diagnosing Prostate Cancer?

Kenji Taylor

Reviewed by Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc

Family Medicine

Diagnosing prostate cancer involves a few key steps, including a PSA blood test, a digital rectal exam, and sometimes a biopsy to check for cancer cells.

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Explanation

Diagnosing prostate cancer starts with a couple of important tests.

  1. PSA Blood Test: This test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. High levels might suggest prostate cancer, but they can also be caused by other conditions.

  2. Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): In this test, a doctor feels the prostate through the rectum to check for any lumps or unusual areas.

If these tests suggest cancer, a biopsy might be done. A biopsy involves taking small samples of prostate tissue to look for cancer cells under a microscope.

These steps help doctors find out if someone has prostate cancer and decide the best way to treat it.

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