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• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 51-60 >> Interview 13 >> Screening may cause unnecessary anxiety, particularly since prostate cancer can be 'unproblematic' or 'dormant', over a considerable period.

Has decided not to have a PSA test, mainly because he has no urinary symptoms, and because there is so much uncertainty about the PSA test and the treatments for prostate cancer, and because treatments have serious side-effects.

• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 61-70 >> Interview 02 >> He finds it hard to be enthusiastic about screening when we don't have enough resources to treat patients already presenting with symptoms.

As a clinical academic who has been involved with screening for cancer in other sites, he felt he was in a good position to judge (when considering screening for prostate cancer) that the potential for harm outweighed the potential for benefit.

• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 40-50 >> Interview 17 >> Says that it is important that the test is accurate before introducing a national screening programme partly because of the cost implication.

In 2003 had urinary symptoms for about three months, and so asked for a PSA test, which was found to be slightly raised. Referred to a specialist, who diagnosed a urinary infection. This was treated and the PSA returned to normal.

• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 61-70 >> Interview 41 >> Thinks the benefits of detecting prostate cancer early are 'pretty slim' compared with the costs and difficulties of running a screening programme.

Has not had urinary symptoms and does not have a family history of prostate cancer. As a medical doctor he has had good access to information about the PSA test and has decided not to have one.