This depends on whether you are having watchful waiting or active surveillance.

Watchful waiting is where PSA tests are used to monitor men who are older, or who have significant health problems, and are not able to have surgery or radiotherapy. If symptoms develop due to the cancer growing, medicines or other treatments can be given to control the symptoms but would not aim to cure the cancer. Most doctors would advise PSA testing in this situation every 6-12 months.

The second approach is known as active surveillance. It means that you have regular PSA tests usually every 3 months for the first few years as well as regular biopsies of the prostate. These checks are done to see whether the cancer is beginning to grow. Men who have prostate cancers that are growing quickly are offered treatment to try to cure the cancer. Men whose cancers are not growing or developing can be safely monitored. Active surveillance allows treatment with surgery or radiotherapy to be offered only to men who need it.