Signs and investigations: Scans for prostate cancer
Patients describe their experiences of ultrasound and other scans.
There are several types of scan which give pictures of the inside of the body. Some of these (ultrasound / Trans-Rectal Ultrasound Scan TRUS) look at the prostate gland and bladder. While others (bone scan, MRI, CAT scan) look at other parts of the body to see if the cancer has spread there. Some men mentioned that they had had ultrasound scans.
Other patients described isotope bone scans, CAT scans and MRI scans. Some men were not sure exactly what type of scan had been used, but all were adamant that although scans might be uncomfortable or claustrophobic they were not painful.
Last reviewed January 2012.
Last updated October 2011.