Measuring Your Cancer


Finding out you have cancer is scary, but the more you know about how much there is and how fast it is growing, the better your doctor can treat it.


Measuring Tools


DRE (digital rectal exam)—Your doctor inserts a gloved finger into your rectum to feel if the cancer may have spread to nearby tissues.


Gleason score—Your doctor takes a sample from your prostate called a biopsy and examines it. Then he gives it a score based on how fast the cancer cells may grow and spread.


Range 2–4 5–7 8–10


Grade low intermediate high


PSA (prostate-specific antigen)— Your doctor gives you a blood test to check for a substance made by your prostate. This can give him information about whether the cancer is just in your prostate or may have spread.


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