Question:

My husband was just diagnosed with prostate cancer. His urologist ordered a bone scan. My question is: is this a standard procedure for a prostate cancer diagnosis or is it done only if there is suspicion that the cancer has already spread to the bones?

Answer:

Bone scans are typically ordered if there is any risk of disease having spread to the bones. However, having said that, although not necessarily indicated very often, urologists will order bone scans in patients with low risk disease even though the chance of having metastatic disease to the bones is extremely low.

For more information:

Go to the Prostate Cancer health topic.