GPs should stop routine rectal examination for prostate cancer, surgeons say

Credit: Getty/SvitlanaHulko

By Erin Dean

GPs should not routinely perform rectal examinations for prostate cancer as they are a “poor test” for the disease, urological surgeons have said.

The British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) and charity Prostate Cancer UK have said that fear of "outdated" digital rectal examinations (DRE) can deter men from seeing their doctor.