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Recurrence of prostate cancer after radiation

What is radio-recurrent prostate cancer and can prostate cancer come back after radiation?

Sometimes, radiation therapy fails to eliminate prostate cancer completely. A recurrence of prostate cancer after radiation therapy is a serious health risk.

Finding alternative treatment options (which you may hear or read referred to as “salvage therapy”) is essential so that these patients can continue to be treated for their prostate cancer with minimal health risk. Read on to learn more about recurrent prostate cancer treatment options.

If I have a recurrence of prostate cancer, can I do radiation therapy again?

Having radiation therapy a second time (after an initial failed radiation treatment) is usually not an option for recurrent prostate cancer treatment because there is an increased risk of serious side effects1. A second external-beam radiation treatment for a recurrence of prostate cancer would do significant damage to the tissues around the prostate such as the bladder and rectum2. In some cases, however, brachytherapy (BT) may be an option after external radiation1.

Recurrent prostate cancer treatment intervention options

Salvage treatment options after failed radiation therapy may include cryotherapy, radical prostatectomy, and HIFU3,1. However, when these treatments are done after radiation, they carry a higher risk for side effects, such as incontinence.1 Choosing the best salvage treatment option for a recurrence of prostate cancer will depend on whether the cancer has remained in the prostate (localized cancer), or if it has spread beyond the prostate (advanced cancer) to lymph nodes or bone.

Spectrum start: Fewest Side Effects

  1. Cryotherapy

    Very-cold gasses are used to kill prostate cancer cells. Ultrasound helps guide the needles that deliver the gasses into the prostate through the skin between the anus and scrotum.

  2. TULSA Procedure

    A minimally invasive, radiation-free treatment performed in an MRI suite that enables ablation of a precisely defined region of the prostate using thermal ultrasound.

  3. Radical Prostatectomy

    A surgical procedure that removes the entire prostate gland and, if cancer has spread to surrounding lymph nodes, those structures as well.

  4. Hormone Therapy

    Often the main option for metastatic prostate cancer, this can include LHRH agonists, anti-androgen therapy, estrogens, and removal of the testicles to reduce testosterone.

Spectrum end: Most Side Effects

Early Detection of a Recurrence of Prostate Cancer

Early prostate screening is highly recommended so that prostate cancer can be found early and treated using less-invasive options. This will increase the chances of a successful procedure, while minimizing the risk of negative side effects or a recurrence of prostate cancer that can affect quality of life.

Men should receive regular health checkups with their doctor if they’re experiencing symptoms. The prostate specific antigen (PSA) test is a key indicator in detecting early prostate cancer6. Contact us to learn more about recurrent prostate cancer treatment options.

Learn more about prostate conditions

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a problematic change in prostate tissue. The prognosis depends on how far the cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis.

Learn about prostate cancer

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

With BPH, there’s an overgrowth of tissue that pushes against the urethra and the bladder, restricting the flow of urine.

Learn More about BPH
References

  1. American Cancer Society. (2020, June 11). Treating Prostate Cancer. Retrieved: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/treating/recurrence.html
  2. Canadian Cancer Society. (2021) Treatment for recurrent prostate cancer. Retrieved: https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/prostate/treatment/recurrent-disease/?region=on
  3. Ingrosso, Gianluca, et al. “Nonsurgical salvage local therapies for radiorecurrent prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” European urology oncology 3.2 (2020). Retrieved: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2588931118302190
  4. American Cancer Society. (2019, August 1). Prostate Cancer. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society. Retrieved: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/treating/cryosurgery.html
  5. National Cancer Institute. (2019, June 12). Prostate Cancer Treatment. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved: https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/patient/prostate-treatment-pdq
  6. Canadian Cancer Society. (2021) Finding Prostate Cancer Early. Retrieved: https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/prostate/finding-cancer-early/?region=on