As pointed out in Post 18, the issue is quite complicated. I don't think I could lay my fingers on it right now but I remember an article posted here on FR about a research study which looked at the prostates of teenage boys that had been killed in accidents. It turned out that something like 25% of them were found to have cancer. So... if you are a guy, you say "now what"? There are a few points that are difficult to rationalize so that a reasonable decision can be made: 1. Virtually all men age 50 or so likely have prostate cancer cells, 2. It is well known to be so slow growing that something else will likely kill you first, 3. A screening test such as a multi-point biopsy (grid of 16 samples) will actually do harm to the prostate, 4. That same screening test may actually miss the cancer cells.
So with the four above points in mind, what is a reasonable course of action for a man of age 50? No easy choices there, let me tell you.
Certainly, the following recommendation is not a good one.
I'm pushing sixty. I get the PSA test every six months. The finger as well. I don't like either. But if it avoids a problem then I will put up with both. And what is the harm from taking the tests. Hell, if Obama gets his way this will be moot anyway.