>No fingers involved, if that makes it any better for you. It's a long probe with a tiny camera at the end of it. (My doc asked if I wanted the photos. I said NO THANK YOU). You are awake but anesthetized and don't feel a thing.
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>I still prefer the blood test.
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>If only people anesthetized me before sending photos <s>

A single blood test is not very good at detecting Prostate Cancer. It, in conjunction with the digital exam are much more accurate. The Prostate should be soft and pliable to the touch. If there are any areas felt that feel abnormal, this is a strong indicator that something is wrong. This usually leads to a biopsy which uses an ultrasound probe that is inserted into the rectum by way of the anus.

This is the one where you are awake and it hurts like h**l when the probe shoots through the rectal wall into the prostate to grab a tissue sample. The doctor did this to me 16 times when I finally told him to quit.