What should I know about follow-up care after my prostate cancer treatment?
- Incision care. Small pieces of tape (called Steri-Strips™) will remain over the incision site and may be removed 10 to...
- Pain relief. You will be given a prescription for pain relief after the procedure. Instead, you may take Extra Strength...
- Skin care. The area may be black and blue right...
What are follow-ups for prostate cancer treatment like?
If you’ve had treatment that aimed to get rid of your prostate cancer, such as surgery, radiotherapy or brachytherapy, you will have regular check-ups afterwards. This is often called follow-up.
Who will help me follow-up after treatment?
After your treatment there will usually be one person who is your main contact for your follow-up care. This might be your specialist nurse, hospital doctor, GP, radiographer or another health professional. They are often called your key worker. They help coordinate your care, answer your questions, and can help you get information and support.
How long will I have follow-up appointments after cancer treatment?
You will have follow-up appointments for some time after your treatment. Exactly how long will depend on your cancer, any side effects of treatment, and the services in your area. You will usually have appointments for several years. After your follow-up appointments finish, you may continue to have PSA tests.
What are the treatment options for recurrence of prostate cancer?
If the only sign of cancer recurrence is a rising PSA level (as opposed to the cancer being seen on imaging tests), another option for some men might be active surveillance instead of active treatment.
How often does prostate cancer return after surgery?
For the majority of men, prostate cancer is treatable and curable and does not come back after initial treatment. However, about 25%–33% of men with prostate cancer will experience a recurrence of their cancer after surgery or radiation.
What are the signs of prostate cancer returning?
The first involves the development of symptoms of recurrence such as leg edema, blood in the urine, progressive fatigue, bone pain and back pain. The second is referred to as a biochemical recurrence, and it involves a rise in the man's PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels.
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 long does it take to heal internally after prostate surgery?
It takes three to four weeks for the abdominal incisions to heal completely, so you should avoid heavy lifting during that time. You may have some swelling in the scrotum and penis after surgery, which will resolve with time.
How do you know if prostate cancer has spread to bones?
Bone pain is often the first sign that prostate cancer has spread to bones. Pain is caused by changes to the structure of the bones and inflammation from cancer cells. It may feel like a sharp pain or dull ache. It can be localized to one area or affect your whole body.
What is normal PSA after prostatectomy?
Ideally, your post-prostatectomy PSA will be undetectable, or less than 0.05 or 0.1 nanograms of PSA per milliliter of blood (ng/mL). If that's the case, your doctor may call it a remission.
Does prostate cancer return after surgery?
A recurrence means that the prostate cancer has not been cured by the initial treatment. Surviving prostate cancer cells have become evident again on evaluation. Usually after surgery to remove the prostate, PSA levels in the blood decrease and eventually become almost undetectable.
What is a high PSA level after prostatectomy?
Following a prostatectomy, the most widely accepted definition of a recurrence is a confirmed PSA level of 0.2 ng/mL or higher. After radiation therapy, the most widely accepted definition is a PSA that rises from the lowest level (nadir) by 2.0 ng/mL or more.
What is the most common problem after prostatectomy?
Stress incontinence is the most common type after prostate surgery. It's usually caused by problems with the valve that keeps urine in the bladder (the bladder sphincter). Prostate cancer treatments can damage this valve or the nerves that keep the valve working.
What are the do's and don'ts after prostate surgery?
Get plenty of rest and don't overdo it. Gradually, you can increase your daily activities. But make sure you get up and walk around at least six times a day. In general, most people resume normal activities within 10 days and full activity within 3 to 4 weeks.
How long does it take to stop urine leakage after a prostate operation?
After the catheter is removed, it can take several weeks or more to completely stop leaking. Most men who experience a loss of bladder control have symptoms for 6 months to 1-year post prostate surgery. However, a small percentage of men may continue to experience problems past the one-year mark.
What can you not do after prostate surgery?
(Many men do not need any more treatment.) One month after surgery : Doctors recommend no strenuous activity or heavy lifting for at least one month after surgery. Most people take off work for three to four weeks. If you work from home, you could return to work sooner.
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Typical Follow-Up Schedules After Prostate Cancer
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Can I Lower My Risk of Prostate Cancer Progressing Or Coming back?
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Could I Get A Second Cancer After Prostate Cancer Treatment?
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Moving on After Prostate Cancer
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How long after a syringe surgery can you take a shower?
The area may be black and blue right after the procedure. This will go away in a few days. You may feel numbness, tingling, or discomfort. This is normal. Try to increase your exercise routine and take a mild pain reliever such as Tylenol. A warm shower may also provide comfort, but remember to wait 1 week after surgery before taking a shower.
Can you go swimming after a follow up appointment?
Do not go swimming until you have discussed this with your doctor at your follow-up appointment.
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 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) ...
How to treat bone cancer pain?
Other medicines and methods can also help keep pain and other symptoms under control. External radiation therapy can help treat bone pain if it’s only in a few spots. Radiopharmaceutical drugs can often reduce pain if it’s more widespread, and may also slow the growth of the cancer.
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 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, ...
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.
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.
What is a survivorship plan?
This plan might include: A schedule for other tests you might need in the future, such as early detection (screening) tests for other types of cancer, or tests to look for long-term health effects from your cancer or its treatment.
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.
How to recover from prostate cancer?
People recovering from prostate cancer are encouraged to follow established guidelines for good health, such as reaching and maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, not smoking, eating a balanced diet, and following cancer screening recommendations. Here are general recommendations for those recovering from prostate cancer: 1 Focus on eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Eat fewer high-calorie foods and beverages and less saturated fat. 2 Get at least 600 IU of vitamin D each day and no more than 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day from foods. 3 If you have problems that affect how well your body absorbs nutrients from foods, consider talking with a registered dietitian (RD). 4 Be physically active for at least 150 minutes each week. 5 Limit alcohol consumption to no more than 2 drinks per day. 6 Quit smoking or using other types of tobacco. 7 Follow recommendations for general cancer screening. Those who received radiation therapy for prostate cancer may have a higher risk of bladder and colorectal cancers and need more intensive screening.
What are the best ways to recover from prostate cancer?
People recovering from prostate cancer are encouraged to follow established guidelines for good health, such as reaching and maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, not smoking, eating a balanced diet, and following cancer screening recommendations. Here are general recommendations for those recovering ...
What is ASCO follow up?
Be sure to discuss any concerns you have about your future physical or emotional health. ASCO offers forms to help keep track of the cancer treatment you received and develop a survivorship care plan when treatment is completed.
What to do if a doctor is not involved in cancer care?
If a doctor who was not directly involved in your cancer care will lead your follow-up care, be sure to share your cancer treatment summary and survivorship care plan forms with them and with all future health care providers . Details about your cancer treatment are very valuable to the health care professionals who will care for you ...
Why do we need follow up care?
One goal of follow-up care is to check for a recurrence, which means that the cancer has come back. Cancer recurs because small areas of cancer cells may remain undetected in the body. Over time, these cells may increase in number until they show up on test results or cause signs or symptoms. During follow-up care, a doctor familiar ...
What are the late effects of prostate cancer?
Some common late effects of prostate cancer include: Anemia, particularly for patients who have received or are receiving hormone therapy. Bowel problems, such as bleeding and needing to go to the bathroom urgently and/or frequently.
What is cancer rehabilitation?
Cancer rehabilitation may be recommended, and this could mean any of a wide range of services, such as physical therapy, career counseling, pain management, nutritional planning, and/or emotional counseling. The goal of rehabilitation is to help people regain control over many aspects of their lives and remain as independent and productive as possible. Learn more about cancer rehabilitation.
How long does it take for PSA to fall after prostate surgery?
After surgery or radiation for localized prostate cancer, your PSA will likely fall. After surgery, your PSA should be undetectable (<0.1 ng/dl) after about 30 days and should remain at this level.
What is a blip in PSA?
If the PSA starts to rise, sometimes this is called a PSA “blip” or “bump” that is not truly cancer progression but rather a phenomenon that one can see with radiation.
Does prostate cancer show up on bone scans?
The dye-like material highlights areas where bone tissue is changing rapidly—a hallmark effect of prostate cancer bone metastases. Bone scans can detect even small amounts of increased bone metabolism, but not all changes are caused by prostate cancer bone metastases.
Cancer Treatments And Erectile Dysfunction
Following surgery, many men experience erectile dysfunction , but for many, the disruption is temporary. Nerves damaged during surgery may result in erectile dysfunction. A nerve-sparing prostatectomy may reduce the chances of nerve damage.
Side Effects From Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy for prostate cancer, known as androgen deprivation therapy , suppresses production of testosterone. ADT can cause several side effects. These include fatigue, hot flashes, decreased bone density, ED, depressed mood, decreased sex drive, weight gain, heart risks, breast growth and cognitive decline.
Side Effects From Radiation
Urinary symptoms from radiation treatment for prostate cancer are different from those caused by prostate surgery. “It’s more like a urinary tract infection-increased urgency and frequency, and men may some have bleeding or pain when they urinate,” Calvaresi said. These problems often go away once treatment is complete.
One Month After Surgery
After a month, most men will be able to return to work, and their operation site will be near healing. Despite this, its recommended that men refrain from strenuous activity, prolonged activity, or activities that may disrupt the operation site for at least 6 weeks.
Ask Your Doctor For A Survivorship Care Plan
Talk with your doctor about developing a survivorship care plan for you. This plan might include:
Facts Every Man Should Know Before Prostate Cancer Surgery
Many men want to know what prostate cancer surgery is like, including what to expect before surgery and what to expect afterwards.
Dealing With Bph Since 2003
Based on the experience of 2003, I will never again have a prostate biopsy. Since having my left cancerous kidney removed in April of 2015, the condition of my prostate has been monitored by more PSA tests and semi-annual prostate sonograms.
What is the most effective treatment for 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. This is because we know that this is the commonest site of recurrence in most men, and that 80% of men treated in this way will be cured.
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 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.
Where does the prostate go in a positive surgical margin?
Positive surgical margins (where the tumour goes up to the edge of the prostate gland).
What is it called when cancer cells migrate out of the body?
These migrating cells are called metastases , secondary deposits or secondaries.