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• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 61-70 >> Interview 01 >> Suggests that the PSA test may be misleading and lead to great anxiety.

Sir Iain Chalmers practised as a medical doctor until 1973. Until recently he was a director of the UK Cochrane Centre. He is now editor of the James Lind Library www.jameslindlibrary.org.

• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 71-80 >> Interview 38 >> He has regular screening for colon cancer because his father died of it and is in favour of screening for prostate cancer too.

He had mild urinary symptoms, and backache. Knowing that bone pain can be due to the spread of prostate cancer he asked his GP for a PSA test. This was "raised", but when repeated six months later was lower, so he was reassured.

• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 51-60 >> Interview 10 >> Thinks that screening for prostate cancer might cause unnecessary anxiety.

He has not had any urinary symptoms. Has looked at information about the PSA test and has decided that he would only have a test if he developed symptoms.

• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 51-60 >> Interview 14 >> He searched the Internet for information about the PSA test and prostate cancer and the arguments for and against screening.

His workplace offers regular health checks. He has not had urinary symptoms. Having carefully considered information about the PSA test and prostate cancer he has had a PSA test every two years. These tests have all been normal.

• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 51-60 >> Interview 10 >> He thinks he is not at high risk of prostate cancer and would be disinclined to have a test without symptoms.

He has not had any urinary symptoms. Has looked at information about the PSA test and has decided that he would only have a test if he developed symptoms.

• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 51-60 >> Interview 13 >> He has concluded that the test 'is not good enough' and does not want to become neurotic about his health.

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 >> A surgeon explains that when a man consults a doctor with symptoms, a PSA test might be done to help to find a diagnosis.

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 51-60 >> Interview 28 >> His PSA will be checked every three months at first and then every six months to check that the treatment has been successful.

No urinary symptoms, but felt tired. His GP suggested a PSA test. The PSA was raised, so he was referred to a consultant, who performed a biopsy. Prostate cancer was diagnosed, and treated with 3D conformal radiotherapy in 2005.

• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 61-70 >> Interview 30 >> He finds it worrying that cancer may be present even if a man's PSA level is within the 'normal' range.

No urinary symptoms, but he asked for a PSA test because a friend had prostate cancer and because of media coverage. PSA found to be slightly raised. In 2004, after a biopsy, cancer was diagnosed, and treated with hormones and then brachytherapy.

• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 61-70 >> Interview 01 >> Argues that we don't know that earlier diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer lengthens life but we do know that treatments have side effects.

Sir Iain Chalmers practised as a medical doctor until 1973. Until recently he was a director of the UK Cochrane Centre. He is now editor of the James Lind Library www.jameslindlibrary.org.

• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 61-70 >> Interview 07 >> Suggests that the UK doesn't have a national screening programme partly because if cancer is diagnosed men have to face difficult choices about treatm

About 2000 developed mild urinary symptoms and asked for a PSA test, which was normal. A test in 2004 was also normal. Father had prostate cancer.

• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 61-70 >> Interview 02 >> Argues that it is irresponsible to advocate PSA screening for prostate cancer until there is better evidence that screening reduces mortality.

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 61-70 >> Interview 08 >> Suggests there is no UK screening programme because of false positive results, because some cancers are very slow growing, and because of cost.

No urinary symptoms, but because of a family history of prostate cancer asked his GP for a PSA test. The result was slightly above normal. Referred to a specialist when a subsequent test showed a higher result. Prostate cancer diagnosed after a biopsy, treated with radiotherapy.

• 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.

• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 51-60 >> Interview 28 >> Says that men over 50 should be screened for prostate cancer because the disease destroys families.

No urinary symptoms, but felt tired. His GP suggested a PSA test. The PSA was raised, so he was referred to a consultant, who performed a biopsy. Prostate cancer was diagnosed, and treated with 3D conformal radiotherapy in 2005.

• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 61-70 >> Interview 42 >> Argues that GP's should tell men about the PSA test because men may have prostate cancer without having symptoms and symptoms are confusing.

Six months ago he decided not to have a PSA test, partly because he did not have urinary symptoms, and his GP was not in favour of doing it. Since then he has changed his mind, mainly due to peer pressure, and will probably have the test in the next few months.

• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> Age 61-70 >> Interview 22 >> He remembers nursing men in the 1960's when they died a painful death from prostate cancer and argues that the PSA test is useful.

Had repeated urinary infections. He suspected this was due to an enlarged prostate, so asked for a PSA test, but the GP refused until he had an appointment with a consultant. In 2005 PSA was "normal" for his age, 4.5 ng/ml. Symptoms treated with antibiotics and Flomax.

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• Cancer >> The PSA test for prostate cancer >> The pros & cons of a national screening programme >> The pros & cons of a national screening programme

The pros and cons of a UK national screening programme for prostate cancer