The Prostate Biopsy

For men 50 and over, digital rectal exams, or DREs, has become a routine part of the annual checkup, as have prostate specific antigen, or PSA tests. These tests can uncover signs of prostate cancer. But before a doctor can make the final diagnosis, they will use an another procedure: the prostate biopsy. To confirm the presence of prostate cancer, a doctor uses a needle to collect a sample of cells from the prostate. A pathologist, an expert who can distinguish cancerous from non-cancerous cells, then examines this sample. With more and more men undergoing biopsies, doctors are making every effort to ensure the procedure is as safe, comfortable, and accurate as possible.
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