Tests You May Need Once You Know You Have Prostate Cancer

If a biopsy shows you have cancer, your doctor may do more tests to see exactly where it is, how big it is, and if it is in more than one place. This is key to choosing the best treatment for you. Depending on certain factors, some men may need more than one test, while others may not need any before treatment. You may worry about the time these tests take. But usually, you will have several weeks after your diagnosis to talk with your family and make decisions about your treatment.

Some of the tests your doctor will use are called imaging tests. These tests use scanning machines that let your doctor see inside your body. They help the doctor locate the cancer within your body. They also help show whether the cancer has spread. Here's a list of some specific imaging tests that may be used for evaluating prostate cancer.

• Bone scan

• Computed tomography scan (CT scan)

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with or without a probe in the rectum