Diagnosis

If you have symptoms that could be caused by prostate cancer, you should visit a GP.

There's no single, definitive test for prostate cancer. The GP will discuss the pros and cons of the various tests with you to try to avoid unnecessary anxiety.

The GP is likely to:

The GP will assess your risk of having prostate cancer based on a number of factors, including your PSA levels and the results of your prostate examination, as well as your age, family history and ethnic group.

If you're at risk, you should be referred to hospital to discuss the options of further tests.

MRI scan

If you have a raised PSA level, your doctor may refer you to hospital for an MRI scan of your prostate. If the scan shows a problem, it can be targeted later with a biopsy.

Having a biopsy to diagnose prostate cancer

There are a few types of biopsy that may be used in hospital, including the following.

A transperineal biopsy

This is where a needle is inserted into the prostate through the skin behind the scrotum. It's usually done under a general anaesthetic (while you're asleep). It has the advantage of a reduced risk of infection.

A transrectal biopsy

During this biopsy, an ultrasound probe (a machine that uses sound waves to build a picture of the inside of your body) is inserted into your rectum. This allows the doctor or specialist nurse to see where to pass the needle to take small samples of tissue from your prostate.

This procedure can be uncomfortable and sometimes painful, so you may be given a local anaesthetic to numb the area and minimise any discomfort. As with any procedure, there may be complications, including bleeding and infection.

A biopsy may also be taken during a cystoscopy examination.

Issues with biopsies

Although a biopsy is more reliable than a PSA test, there can still be issues, such as:

The samples of tissue from the biopsy are studied in a laboratory. If cancerous cells are found, they can be studied further to see how quickly the cancer will spread. This is called "staging and grading" and helps doctors to decide which treatment is the most appropriate.

Further information

Further testing for advanced cancer

If there's a significant chance the cancer has spread from your prostate to other parts of the body, further tests may be recommended.

These include:

Further information

Page last reviewed: 18 October 2021
Next review due: 18 October 2024