Digital Rectal Exam for Prostate Cancer

Page Contents

A digital rectal exam (DRE) is a way to check for signs of prostate cancer. For this exam a physician inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to:

  • Feel your prostate gland
  • Assess the texture of the back of the gland, where most prostate cancers begin
  • Check for any bumps (nodules) or hard areas that might be cancer

Take Charge of Your Health

Talk to your primary care provider if you have questions about prostate cancer screening and which tests may be right for you. UW Medicine Primary Care can help you get started. Learn about Fred Hutch's relationship with UW Medicine.

How Digital Rectal Exams Can Screen for Prostate Cancer 

Since the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test was introduced in the late 1980s, physicians have often used it along with a DRE to screen for prostate cancer. Screenings are done to check for a condition in people with no symptoms.

A DRE can sometimes find cancers in men with normal PSA levels. So, Fred Hutch Cancer Center recommends men 55 or older talk to their physician about whether DRE is right for them. For some men at higher risk, such as African Americans or those with a family history of cancer, physicians may recommend screenings starting at an earlier age.

Fred Hutch’s prostate cancer specialists recommend the following screening schedule:

  • Men under 40: DRE and PSA screenings are not recommended for men at average risk.
  • Men 40 to 54: DRE and PSA screenings are not recommended for men at average risk.
  • Men 55 to 69: DRE, PSA or both screenings may be right for you. Talk with your physician about the risks and benefits.
  • Men 70 or older: DRE and PSA screenings are generally not recommended. But men who are in excellent health may benefit from screening.

Where to Get a Digital Rectal Exam for Prostate Cancer

Your Fred Hutch provider may perform a DRE as part of your diagnosis or assessment. DREs are typically performed by a primary care provider or specialist. Our care partner, UW Medicine, offers a range of primary care options.

Explore Primary Care Options at UW Medicine

Digital Rectal Exam for Prostate Cancer FAQ

Your physician might recommend a DRE if you decide you want to be screened for prostate cancer, or if you had a PSA screening test first and your level was higher than normal.

A digital rectal exam can be uncomfortable. But otherwise, it’s not likely to have any side effects.

Typically, this exam only takes a few seconds. It usually isn’t painful.

A PSA test is more accurate in finding prostate cancer. But sometimes in a DRE a physician can feel something abnormal that turns out to be cancer, even if a man’s PSA level is normal.