What is a PSA bounce in prostate cancer?
Most prostate cancer (PCa) patients who are treated with beam radiation or brachytherapy (seed implants) can expect they are on the road to a successful treatment. Then, like a red herring, something called a PSA bounce throws them off track. Months after their treatment, their PSA suddenly begins to rise—and they fear their PCa is back.
How long does a PSA Bounce last after radiation?
In one study, approximately 12% of men who underwent treatment with external beam radiation therapy were reported to have a PSA bounce about nine months after treatment, on average. Doctors aren’t sure what causes a PSA bounce, though several theories exist.
What is prostate-specific antigen bounce?
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the biomarker used for post-treatment surveillance of PCa patients [ 1, 2 ]. In curative cases, PSA levels decrease gradually over a period of more than five years after radiotherapy and reach a nadir. In a subset of patients, however, PSA levels fluctuate and show a temporal increase called the PSA bounce [ 3 ].
Does prostate cancer bounce back through radiotherapy?
If the bounce does represent a stimulation of immune activity, this implies that a beneficial tumor-immune axis might be activated in prostate cancer via radiotherapy. This could in turn have implications for the role of radiation in priming an immune response in more advanced disease states.
Can radiation bounce?
In one study, approximately 12% of men who underwent treatment with external beam radiation therapy were reported to have a PSA bounce about nine months after treatment, on average.
How high is a PSA bounce?
We defined “PSA bounce” as a rise of 0.1 ng/mL, followed by two consecutive falls. Patients with biochemical failure (PSA nadir + 2 ng/mL) were further evaluated for cancer recurrence.
How long does it take for the prostate to heal after radiation?
They'll fade gradually within 4 to 6 weeks after you finish your treatment. If you notice any skin changes outside the treated area, tell your doctor or nurse. Long-term side effects, which can last up to a year or longer after treatment, may include: A slight darkening of the skin.
How long does it take for a prostate tumor to shrink after radiation?
For tumors that divide slowly, the mass may shrink over a long, extended period after radiation stops. The median time for a prostate cancer to shrink is about 18 months (some quicker, some slower).
Is PSA bounce normal?
A brief rise and then fall in the blood level of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) that occurs in some patients 1-3 years after receiving radiation treatment for prostate cancer. PSA bounce does not mean that the cancer has come back.
What does a jump in PSA mean?
PSA velocity is the change in PSA levels over time. A rapid rise in PSA may indicate the presence of cancer or an aggressive form of cancer. However, recent studies have cast doubt on the value of PSA velocity in predicting a finding of prostate cancer from biopsy. Percentage of free PSA .
Does the prostate still function after radiation therapy?
Cancer that is thought to still be in or around the prostate After radiation therapy: If your first treatment was radiation, treatment options might include cryotherapy or radical prostatectomy, but when these treatments are done after radiation, they carry a higher risk for side effects such as incontinence.
How do you feel after radiation treatment?
The most common early side effects are fatigue (feeling tired) and skin changes. Other early side effects usually are related to the area being treated, such as hair loss and mouth problems when radiation treatment is given to this area. Late side effects can take months or even years to develop.
When will I feel better after radiotherapy?
The side effects of radiotherapy usually peak up to two weeks after treatment has finished. The effects of radiotherapy continue developing, and it may take a further couple of weeks to several months for you to feel normal, depending on the area of the body that has been treated.
Do tumors grow back after radiation?
Normal cells close to the cancer can also become damaged by radiation, but most recover and go back to working normally. If radiotherapy doesn't kill all of the cancer cells, they will regrow at some point in the future.
How much does PSA drop after radiation?
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. It's important to try to always use the same lab for all of your PSA tests because PSA values can fluctuate somewhat from lab to lab.
Do tumors continue to shrink after radiation?
Genes control how cells grow and divide. When radiation damages the genes of cancer cells, they can't grow and divide any more. Over time, the cells die. This means radiation can be used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
How long does it take for prostate cancer to rise after seeding?
As many as one-third of men who choose brachytherapy, or seed therapy, to treat their prostate cancer may experience this transient rise in PSA, usually about 18 to 24 months after the seeds are implanted.
What is a bump in prostate cancer?
The last thing a prostate cancer patient wants to hear after treatment is that his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level is on the rise! However, as your doctor points out, you may be experiencing nothing more than a temporary, benign rise in PSA, a phenomenon often called a PSA bounce, spike , or bump.
How long after RP was my PSA reading?
7 weeks after RP my first PSA reading was 13. two weeks later it was 26. Prior to surgery PSA was 48 and had been on a 8 year steady incline with a doubling time of 260 days at the time of surgery (4/17). That was a shocking increase when I was expecting a decrease to zero.
How long does it take to see if your PSA is low?
But your physician probably wants to wait to see what your PSA level is in six months, especially since it’s still relatively low.
Does ejaculation affect PSA?
Studies have shown an association between recent ejaculation and higher PSA levels, for example, as well as proctitis (inflammation of the rectum) and the insertion of a catheter. Age and radiation dose may play a role as well. There can also be variability among laboratories in determining PSA levels.
Does the CDC have a PSA bounce?
Meanwhile, scientists continue to explore treatments and to keep an eye on viral variants. Doctors aren’t sure what causes a PSA bounce, though several theories exist.
Author information
Departments of Radiation Oncology and Urology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Survival, Risk of Spread Not Affected
The researchers studied men who were treated with either external beam radiation therapy or radiation seed implants.
PSA Readings Every 3 Months
No one knows for sure why men treated with radiation experience a temporary rise and fall in PSA levels, but Cole says most doctors believe it's associated with the death of cancer cells.
