Most men with prostate cancer are strongly in favour of the prostate specific antigen test, even though it does not lead to an improvement in survival.
Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a protein which is found to be elevated in prostate cancer. It is used as a screening test for the disease, both in diagnosis and ongoing monitoring. But the use of PSA is controversial. Men with elevated levels are more likely to undergo surgery, yet have no survival advantage.

Researchers at the University of Oxford, England, surveyed a group of 52 men with suspected or confirmed prostate cancer. All but four believed in PSA testing and would advocate it for friends and sons.

In a related study, two areas of the US where screening had been adopted at different rates were compared. In Seattle, men were five times more likely to have PSA testing and twice as likely to have a biopsy, during 1987 and 1990, compared to those in Connecticut. Rates of surgery were also higher in Seattle. But, 11 years on, rates of survival in the two areas are about the same. More research is needed into the role of the PSA test, say the Oxford researchers, and it's important that men make an informed choice on this issue.