thomasdevos
10-05-2009, 10:45 PM
PSA Bounce After Radiation therapy for prostate cancer: keeping an eye on the ball
The prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the prostate gland. It is measured in blood and is a useful tool for monitoring men who have been treated for prostate cancer. Is a rising PSA after radiation therapy, be it a prostate seed implant and / or external beam radiation, always signify disease recurrence?
In the past, a rising PSA after prostate seed implant or external beam radiotherapy has been considered a harbinger of relapse of prostate cancer, which often leads to expensive tests and invoking d ‘great anxiety of the patient. Then, when the PSA rose to 10 ng / ml or more, men were under hormonal treatment. Since the latter is associated with a number of unpleasant side effects, it is advisable to refrain from using hormonal therapy unless necessary. The question then arises: when does an increase in PSA does not mean that cancer is back?<br />
There is a phenomenon known as a jump in PSA, in which the PSA level jumps in one to three years after the man has completed radiotherapy. The PSA level eventually returns to the base he reached just after treatment. PSA bounce may be caused by the death of damaged tumor cells that release their PSA.
A PSA bounce usually starts with less than a one-point (less than 1 ng / ml) elevated level of PSA. In addition, elevations of PSA after three years are less likely to be part of a rebound, and contrary to rebound, rising PSA level over 1.2ng/ml are less likely to fall back to their points departure.
A recent study has collected data on 7500 men who were treated for prostate cancer radiotherapy. Nearly half of these men were known to have a PSA bounce. However, there was no negative effect on their survival. In fact, these men Fared as well as men whose PSA did not bounce. Also, patients with such a PSA bounce less than two years after treatment may be less likely to have cancer return later.
More good news is that now doctors are aware that a rising PSA level does not necessarily prostate cancer has recurred, men whose PSA bounce after radiation therapy can be monitored by their doctor, who can repeat PSA blood test six months later.
Reference Site:
prostate cancer treatment (http://prostate-cancer-treatment-cure.com)
prostatecancerfoundation (http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org)
en.wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostate_cancer)
www.cancer.gov (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate)
neworiental (http://www.neworiental.org/publish/portal0/tab1127/info377702.htm)
The prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the prostate gland. It is measured in blood and is a useful tool for monitoring men who have been treated for prostate cancer. Is a rising PSA after radiation therapy, be it a prostate seed implant and / or external beam radiation, always signify disease recurrence?
In the past, a rising PSA after prostate seed implant or external beam radiotherapy has been considered a harbinger of relapse of prostate cancer, which often leads to expensive tests and invoking d ‘great anxiety of the patient. Then, when the PSA rose to 10 ng / ml or more, men were under hormonal treatment. Since the latter is associated with a number of unpleasant side effects, it is advisable to refrain from using hormonal therapy unless necessary. The question then arises: when does an increase in PSA does not mean that cancer is back?<br />
There is a phenomenon known as a jump in PSA, in which the PSA level jumps in one to three years after the man has completed radiotherapy. The PSA level eventually returns to the base he reached just after treatment. PSA bounce may be caused by the death of damaged tumor cells that release their PSA.
A PSA bounce usually starts with less than a one-point (less than 1 ng / ml) elevated level of PSA. In addition, elevations of PSA after three years are less likely to be part of a rebound, and contrary to rebound, rising PSA level over 1.2ng/ml are less likely to fall back to their points departure.
A recent study has collected data on 7500 men who were treated for prostate cancer radiotherapy. Nearly half of these men were known to have a PSA bounce. However, there was no negative effect on their survival. In fact, these men Fared as well as men whose PSA did not bounce. Also, patients with such a PSA bounce less than two years after treatment may be less likely to have cancer return later.
More good news is that now doctors are aware that a rising PSA level does not necessarily prostate cancer has recurred, men whose PSA bounce after radiation therapy can be monitored by their doctor, who can repeat PSA blood test six months later.
Reference Site:
prostate cancer treatment (http://prostate-cancer-treatment-cure.com)
prostatecancerfoundation (http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org)
en.wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostate_cancer)
www.cancer.gov (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate)
neworiental (http://www.neworiental.org/publish/portal0/tab1127/info377702.htm)