is prostate soft or firm
The Digital Rectal Exam or the DRE is another standard screening test for prostate cancer. A doctor inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum to exam the prostate. The doctor performs this prostate exam to search for irregularities of the prostate. A healthy prostate gland should be soft, smooth, and symmetrical. Irregularities include lumps, jagged areas, coarse spots, enlargements, or firm areas. In the early stages of prostate cancer, however, a tumor may be nonpalpable, meaning the tumor is not detectable by touch.