Prostate Cancer (cont.)

Prostate Cancer Slideshow Pictures

Medical Illustrations of the Prostate Image Collection

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Medical Author:

Kevin C. Zorn, MD, FRCSC, FACS

Coauthor:

Gagan Gautam, MD, MCh (Urology)

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Next Steps

Follow-up

Follow-up care is especially important for patients for whom a more conservative approach (such as watchful waiting) was taken to the treatment of prostate cancer. It is imperative that you see your urologist for digital rectal exams, PSA level tests, and other tests as recommended to follow the progression of cancer growth.

For men who have undergone radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, or both, follow-up care is important to prevent recurrence of cancer.

PSA has been shown useful in detecting recurrences. PSA levels should be less than 0.2 ng/mL after radical prostatectomy.

PSA levels should be checked every three months for one year, every six months for the second year, and annually after that.

You should have a physical examination, including digital rectal exam, every three months for one year, then every six months for a year, then yearly after that.

In certain cases after radical prostatectomy, additional treatment may be required based on the final pathology report of the removed prostate or if the PSA starts rising after surgery.

This may be in the form of additional radiation treatment to the area where the prostate once was and/or hormonal treatment with LHRH agonists or antiandrogens as mentioned earlier.