The Digital Rectal Exam
What is the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)?
In a digital rectal exam (DRE), your doctor will feel the size and shape of the prostate by inserting a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum. The area where most prostate cancers are found can be felt during this test.
What does a healthy prostate feel like?
A healthy prostate feels:
• soft,
• rubbery,
• smooth,
• symmetrical,
• regular and even.
Any lumps, hard, woody or irregular areas of the prostate may indicate the presence of cancer or some sort of abnormality with the prostate and will require further testing.
It is important to remember that no test is perfect. Combining the PSA blood test with a DRE provides your doctor with more information and helps to increase the accuracy of these early detection methods.
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