- Physical Examination: For kidney cancer, the doctor may palpate (feel) the abdomen and sides for lumps or abnormal growths. For prostate cancer, a digital rectal examination (DRE) may be performed to feel for bumps, hard areas, or other abnormalities of the prostate.
- Kidney Function Tests: These measure the levels of substances such as creatinine in the blood, which provide information about kidney health.
- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: This blood test measures the level of PSA, a protein produced by the prostate. Elevated levels can suggest a prostate problem, possibly including cancer.
- Tumour Markers: In some cases, biomarkers such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) can provide information about kidney cancer.
- Imaging Techniques: Several different imaging techniques ranging from a computed tomography (CT) scan to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, or ultrasound can be used to detect urologic cancers, which often appear as differently coloured or denser areas on the images.
Diagnosis
