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Men who have surgery for prostate cancer need radiation therapy, too?

Copyright 2008 by Carol L. Kornmehl. No part of this article may be reproduced or copied without express written permission of the author.

There are several treatment options for men with prostate cancer. This including a surgical procedure known as radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy. Are there situations where a man who underwent radical prostatectomy need later radiation therapy?

The answer is yes, especially in the circumstances. Radiotherapy is known that salvage radiotherapy, and it is advisable for men whose PSA levels rise after surgery and for those whose PSA levels never drop. The reason is that radiation therapy may increase the probability survival of these men.

A recent study examined data from 635 men with rising PSA levels after radical prostatectomy. In the study, 160 men who received salvage radiotherapy, 78 received radiotherapy and hormone rescue (which lowers hormone levels that stimulate prostate cancer in male blood), and 397 received no treatment.

For the next ten years, men who received salvage radiotherapy alone or radiotherapy and hormone therapy, the mortality rate for prostate cancer was nearly 60% lower than men who were not treated.

Salvage radiotherapy was observed to be more beneficial for men with increasing levels of PSA when administered immediately after the problem is identified. However, if radiotherapy for men with climbing in the PSA is postponed for more than two years after the initial peak PSA, we see no advantage.

Further analysis revealed that the beneficial effect of salvage radiotherapy was limited to men, PSA levels doubled in less than six months, suggesting period of rapid PSA doubling is indicative of a more aggressive disease.

Therefore, the good news is that for men whose PSA levels increase after radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy can be lifesaving.

About the Author

Dr. Kornmehl is a board certified radiation oncologist and author of the critically acclaimed consumer health book, “The Best News About Radiation Therapy” (M. Evans, 2004). She may be contacted via www.RTSupportdoc.com , her website.



What do you think of this article to reduce your chances of developing cancer of the prostate?

I never have prostate cancer, lol. Http: / / news.yahoo.com/s/po/20080421/co_po/masturbationmaypreventprostatecancer; _ylt = AmzaEIOPaR .. zu_Hzgw_5lCs0NUE'm a man.

when I go the doctor just to show her hair in the palm of his hand and said: "Well, I guess we do not need a colonoscopy this year!" thank you for the link … and laughter!

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