| After the initial treatment, there still exists a very | | | | in PSA levels is due to cancer cells and their exact |
| remote likelihood of prostate cancer recurrence in | | | | location. Are they in the lymph nodes outside the |
| some cases. The disease is ordinarily cured if it | | | | prostate or in the pelvic region or in the bones? |
| has not spread outside the gland, and if this is so, | | | | This testing is what will determine what treatment |
| the most probable treatment is radical | | | | to then apply. In this case it is normal to use |
| prostatectomy (removal of the gland by surgery). | | | | external beam therapy. |
| To monitor whether the treatment has been | | | | Tests for recurrence after radiotherapy follow |
| effective, most surgeons recommend prostate | | | | much the same pattern. Again a continued rise in |
| PSA testing once every 3 to 4 months after | | | | PSA levels would normally indicate a recurrence. |
| surgery in the first 2 years, and then once every | | | | This suggesting further treatment, and often |
| 6 months in the next five years. After this, | | | | hormone therapy is used. |
| testing can be done once a year as chances of | | | | But take heart, even with rising PSA levels the |
| prostate cancer recurrence are very small. | | | | doctor may still decide that the prostate cancer |
| So the best way to detect whether cancer cells | | | | recurrence does not pose any serious threat or is |
| continue to grow in the body is by the PSA | | | | slow growing enough to put it under watchful |
| (prostate specific antigen test ) blood test. The | | | | waiting for sometime before any further |
| doctor will determine for certain whether the rise | | | | treatment becomes necessary. |