When it comes to prostate cancer, the concept of “minimal residual disease” is usually applied to the ability to identify very small numbers of prostate cancer cells in the blood stream or in the bone marrow after intensive treatment of men with unfavorable intermediate-risk or high-risk prostate cancer.
Full Answer
Can prostate cancer recur after treatment?
Prostate cancer can recur even many years after treatment, which is why it’s important to keep regular doctor visits and report any new symptoms (such as bone pain or problems with urination). Talk with your doctor about developing a survivorship care plan for you. This plan might include:
What happens to PSA levels when prostate cancer metastases?
If metastasis occurs, because the metastatic cells originated in the prostate and therefore make PSA, the PSA level in the blood starts to rise. Once it has reached a given threshold (0.1 – 0.2 ng/ml, depending on your urologist) additional or ‘salvage’ treatment will be discussed.
What are the treatment options for biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer?
Regardless of whether an adjuvant or salvage therapy approach is taken, the main treatment options following biochemical recurrence are: Radiotherapy – this is the commonest approach. Active surveillance – this is appropriate for a very slowly-rising PSA in an elderly patient who has no symptoms.
Are there any post-prostate surgery effects?
There are post prostate surgery effects that you might have to live with, but through the advances in modern medicine implants like the AUS and the IPP can return what the cancer took away. Thanks guys for doing a great job here. Go Pokes! Thank you for your encouraging update.
What is prostate cancer residuals?
The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are manifested by urine leakage requiring the use of absorbent materials changed 4 times per day; increased urinary frequency typified by a voiding interval during the day between 1 and 2 hours, and nighttime awakening to void 5 or more times; symptoms of obstructed voiding ...
What is percent of prostate cancer returns after radiation?
Depending on the disease characteristics, 15-70% of prostate cancer patients recur after definitive radiation therapy, thus these figures suggest that over 100,000 men may present with recurrent disease after upfront radiation therapy.
How long does it take for prostate cancer to recur?
For example, a study of 1,449 men with prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy, published in the Journal of Urology, found that anywhere from 19% to 26% experienced biochemical recurrence within 12 years, depending on the definition of recurrence.
How do I know if my prostate cancer has returned?
How Is a Recurrence Detected? After prostate cancer treatment, you will go for medical check-ups every few months as determined by your doctor. At each follow-up appointment, your doctor will order a blood test to measure PSA levels. This test helps your doctor detect a cancer recurrence.
How often does prostate cancer recur after radiation?
“In recent years, [for the] 30-40 percent of patients who elect radiation therapy, the cancer will recur,” noted Madi, who is Director of Urologic Oncology and Robotic Surgery at the Medical Center at Augusta University, as well as Professor in the Division of Urology.
What is the life expectancy after prostate radiation?
Based on the natural history of localized prostate cancer, the life expectancy (LE) of men treated with either radical prostatectomy (RP) or definitive external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) should exceed 10 years.
Does prostate cancer always return?
Fortunately the five year survival rate for men with localized prostate cancer is nearly 100 percent. However, up to 40 percent of men will experience a recurrence, so it is important to understand your risk for recurrence.
What is the survival rate of recurrent prostate cancer?
Results: In all men 10, 15, 20 and 25-year disease-free survival rates were 75%, 73%, 73% and 73%, respectively. Longest time to recurrence was at the 15.5-year followup. In 313 men with recurrence who were treated 16 to 25 years ago 5% of recurrences were late.
Can prostate cancer be cured permanently?
There is no cure for metastatic prostate cancer, but it is often treatable for quite some time. Many people outlive their prostate cancer, even those who have advanced disease. Often, the prostate cancer grows slowly, and there are now effective treatment options that extend life even further.
What is the newest treatment for recurrent prostate cancer?
Newer hormonal medications that inhibit the synthesis of androgen (abiraterone) and block androgen receptor signaling (enzalutamide) are FDA-approved for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
Which cancer has highest recurrence rate?
Some cancers are difficult to treat and have high rates of recurrence. Glioblastoma, for example, recurs in nearly all patients, despite treatment. The rate of recurrence among patients with ovarian cancer is also high at 85%....Related Articles.Cancer TypeRecurrence RateGlioblastoma2Nearly 100%18 more rows•Nov 30, 2018
When is prostate cancer considered in remission?
Although you've had treatment aimed at getting rid of your prostate cancer, your doctor or nurse won't usually use the word 'cure'. Instead they may say you're 'in remission'. This means there is no sign of cancer. Unfortunately, your doctor or nurse can't say for certain whether your cancer will come back.
What is CRPC prostate cancer?
Castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is cancer that is still growing despite the fact that hormone therapy (an orchiectomy or an LHRH agonist or antagonist) is keeping the testosterone level in the body as low as what would be expected if the testicles were removed (called castrate level s). The cancer might still respond to other forms ...
What is castrate resistant prostate cancer?
Castrate-resistant and hormone-refractory prostate cancer 1 Castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is cancer that is still growing despite the fact that hormone therapy (an orchiectomy or an LHRH agonist or antagonist) is keeping the testosterone level in the body as low as what would be expected if the testicles were removed (called castrate level s). The cancer might still respond to other forms of hormone therapy, though. 2 Hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) is cancer that is no longer helped by any form of hormone therapy.
What hormones can help with cancer?
These include abiraterone (Zytiga), enzalutamide (Xtandi), apalutamide (Erleada), darolutamide (Nubeqa), ketoconazole, estrogens (female hormones), and corticosteroids. The prostate cancer vaccine sipuleucel-T (Provenge) ...
What is HRPC in medical terms?
Hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) is cancer that is no longer helped by any form of hormone therapy. Men whose prostate cancer is still growing despite initial hormone therapy now have many more treatment options than they had even a few years ago.
What to do if PSA is rising?
If the PSA is rising quickly enough to warrant treatment , but localized treatments (such as surgery, radiation therapy, or cryotherapy) aren’t likely to be helpful, hormone therapy is often the next option. If one type of hormone therapy isn’t helpful, another can be tried (see castrate-resistant prostate cancer, below).
What is the best treatment for cancer?
For cancers that are no longer responding to initial hormone therapy and are causing symptoms, several options might be available. Chemotherapy with the drug docetaxel (Taxotere) is often the first choice because it has been shown to help men live longer, as well as to reduce pain.
What tests are needed to treat cancer?
Follow-up treatment will depend on where the cancer is thought to be and what treatment (s) you've already had. Imaging tests such as CT, MRI, or bone scans may be done to get a better idea about where the cancer is.
What is the most effective treatment for metastatic prostate cancer?
Radiotherapy – this is the commonest approach. Because scans don’t show metastatic deposits until the PSA is more than 0.5 ng/ml and because radiotherapy is more effective when given before this level is reached, the radiotherapy energy is delivered to the prostate bed.
How low should PSA be after prostate removal?
One of the main advantages of surgery over radiotherapy for prostate cancer is that following prostate removal, the PSA should be very low (less than 0.1 ng/ml), which we can of course detect with blood tests.
What stage was JG's prostate cancer?
His prostate cancer was of stage T1c, he had a normal rectal examination and a PSA of 9.8.
What happens to PSA after metastasis?
If metastasis occurs, because the metastatic cells originated in the prostate and therefore make PSA , the PSA level in the blood starts to rise. Once it has reached a given threshold (0.1 – 0.2 ng/ml, depending on your urologist) additional or ‘salvage’ treatment will be discussed.
What is the best treatment for a slow rise in PSA?
Active surveillance – this is appropriate for a very slowly-rising PSA in an elderly patient who has no symptoms. Hormonal therapy – in many ways this is the least appealing option as it causes symptoms but does not cure anyone, although it does control the recurrence and lower the PSA. Patient undergoing radiotherapy.
How long after surgery can you get additional treatment?
Additional treatment after surgery. Additional treatment can come with one of two approaches: treatment given as ‘ adjuvant ’ therapy (given 3 months after surgery to maximise its effectiveness), or as ‘ salvage ’ therapy (given only if the PSA rises). In the modern era, most additional treatment is given as salvage therapy because firstly this ...
How many ng/ml is a normal PSA?
If it can be seen on a scan it is termed ‘clinical’ recurrence, which generally does not occur until the PSA level is more than 0.5 ng/ml. Symptoms, such as bone pain, don’t usually occur until the PSA is more than 20 ng/ml.
What is the MRD in prostate cancer?
The concept of “minimal residual disease” or MRD and how it affects risk for cancer-specific mortality is a subject of growing importance in the management of many cancers. But it is relatively new to the world of prostate cancer.
What is minimal residual disease?
Minimal residual disease and the management of prostate cancer. The concept of “minimal residual disease” or MRD and how it affects risk for cancer-specific mortality is a subject of growing importance in the management of many cancers. But it is relatively new to the world of prostate cancer.
How to prevent prostate cancer?
Getting regular physical activity. Some research has suggested that men who exercise regularly after treatment might be less likely to die from their prostate cancer than those who don’t. It’s not clear exactly how much activity might be needed, but more seems to be better.
What happens if prostate cancer comes back?
If your prostate cancer comes back at some point, your treatment options will depend on where the cancer is, what types of treatment you’ve already had, and your health. See Treating Prostate Cancer that Doesn't Go Away or Comes Back After Treatment. For more general information on recurrence, see Understanding Recurrence.
What to do if you have prostate cancer?
If you have (or have had) prostate cancer, you probably want to know if there are things you can do that might lower your risk of the cancer growing or coming back, such as exercising, eating a certain type of diet, or taking nutritional supplements. While there are some things you can do that might be helpful, ...
Why is it important to tell your doctor about prostate cancer?
It’s important for all prostate cancer survivors, to tell their health care team about any new symptoms or problems, because they could be caused by the cancer coming back or by a new disease or second cancer.
Can men with prostate cancer get other cancers?
Men who’ve had prostate cancer can still get other cancers. In fact, prostate cancer survivors are at higher risk for getting some other types of cancer. See Second Cancers After Prostate Cancer to learn more.
Does smoking cause prostate cancer?
Some research has suggested that men who smoke are more likely to have their prostate cancer recur and are more likely to die from it than men who don’t smoke. More research is needed to see if quitting smoking can help lower these risks, although quitting is already known to have a number of other health benefits.
Can losing weight help prostate cancer?
But it’s not yet clear if losing weight can lower this risk. More research is needed to help clarify this.
AO PC Residuals andDBQ
I have heard the Va has changed the process for evaluating ongoing PC. I had prostate removed 8 years ago and PSA kept rising. I have ED and incontinence probs also, related to PC. I just got a letter form Va that they sent a DBQ to my VA Dr and from that are continuing me at 100% because I am still getting treatment.
How to claim residuals for PC
I was told by a rater that when you claim residuals for PC. if you say you are using pads and how many a day it is important for you to be getting your pads from the VA and you are telling your VA doctor about the problem.
SteveO
Re: " I know most of us don't lie, and that wasn't my intention to suggest that."
1gunjunkie
I've used a CPAP since 1997; I have the full-face type now. I suppose the key is to try not to think about the apparatus. I've had so many adjustments to make over the past 20 years that it was just part of the package. It's part of my life like bushing my teeth or taking my meds. However, I understand that it is difficult for many. Good luck...Ron
1gunjunkie
Thank you for your encouraging update. Glad to hear that there are improvements in your quality of life.