There are four main ways to check the prostate for cancer:

A digital rectal examination (DRE)

This involves the doctor inserting a gloved finger into your back passage (rectum) to feel the prostate. This is good for finding advanced cancers, but overall it will detect less than half of all prostate cancers. It may be uncomfortable, but it is quick and it should not be painful.

The PSA test

The PSA test is a blood test. A small sample of blood is taken from your arm using a needle and syringe.

Trans-rectal ultrasound scan (TRUS)

Ultrasound scans use sound waves to build up a picture of the inside of the body. To scan the prostate gland, a small probe is passed into the rectum and an image of the prostate appears on a screen. This type of scan is used to measure the size of the prostate. A sample of cells (biopsy) can be taken at the same time (see below). The scan may be uncomfortable but it only takes a few minutes.

Transrectal needle biopsy of the prostate

A transrectal needle biopsy is usually done at the same time as an ultrasound. This involves putting a plastic probe into the rectum and passing a needle through the wall of the rectum to take a sample from the prostate. The doctors will then use a microscope to look for any cancer cells in the sample. This is how doctors can tell for certain if you have prostate cancer, usually after a PSA test and rectal examination.