When deciding on the best treatment for a prostate cancer it is important to know whether the tumour has spread to anywhere else.

The commonest place in the body for prostate cancer to spread to is the bones. This called secondary bone cancer.

A blood test, called the PSA test can help doctors to decide how likely it is that a prostate cancer may have spread. If the PSA level is normal or only slightly raised it is very unlikely that the cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland. But, if the level is higher it is possible that the tumour may have spread.

A bone scan is the best way of finding if cancer has spread to the bones. So, doctors usually recommend that men have a bone scan if they have symptoms such as back pain or a PSA level that is more than slightly raised.