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.
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.
NOTE: Content is for educational purposes ONLY and should not replace medical advice from your physician.
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.
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.
References
- American Cancer Society. (2020, June 11). Treating Prostate Cancer. Retrieved: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/treating/recurrence.html
- 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
- 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
- American Cancer Society. (2019, August 1). Prostate Cancer. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society. Retrieved: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/treating/cryosurgery.html
- National Cancer Institute. (2019, June 12). Prostate Cancer Treatment. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved: https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/patient/prostate-treatment-pdq
- Canadian Cancer Society. (2021) Finding Prostate Cancer Early. Retrieved: https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/prostate/finding-cancer-early/?region=on