Dilemma of the PSA test to detect Prostatic Cancer Written by Dr. Harold Gunatillake FRCS, FICS, FIACS, MB, BS, AM (Sing)-Health writer When you are over 40, the doctors’ advice you to have a PSA test to check and record the number as your base, for future comparisons. If there is a history of prostate cancer in the family, you are advised a test yearly. If you do not have a family history and your first PSA test is low, then your doctor will advise you to get a test done every three years. If the first reading is high or subsequent readings reveal a progressive increase in the numbers, the problems arise. It is a dilemma for the patient, family doctor and the specialist to evaluate and manage such cases. ...