Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
This test is similar to a CT scan (see above), but it uses magnetism instead of x-rays to build up a series of very clear and detailed pictures of your body. Like a CT scan, MRI is painless, and the magnetism is harmless.
You will be asked to lie very still on a couch inside a metal cylinder, which is open at both ends. The whole test may take up to an hour to complete. The cylinder makes some people feel quite claustrophobic, but you can usually take someone into the room with you to keep you company.
This test will help your doctor decide whether the cancer has spread beyond the prostate, which will help you both decide which treatment will be best for you.
