Bone scan

Bone scan

A bone scan may be used to see if the prostate cancer has spread to your bones. A radioactive tracer (like a dye) is injected into a vein, usually in your arm. You will need to wait for the tracer to make its way through your body.

You will be asked to undress and put on a gown, then lie on a table under the scanning machine. The machine will detect rays from the tracer and turn these into pictures, which can be seen on a computer. The tracer will show any “hot spots" in your bones, which may be cancer. The test will take about one hour. It is painless and has no side effects.