Good prostate cancer screening tests have led to early diagnosis in about 80% of men with the disease. According to the American Cancer Society, all of these men survive at least five years. Screening alone is credited for one-third of the recent decrease in prostate cancer deaths.
Both DRE and PSA tests can detect signs that might be from prostate cancer. A PSA test is more accurate. 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. Neither test can confirm the presence of cancer for certain. For this, you need a biopsy.