It’s only natural for prostate cancer patients who have put their treatment phase in the rear-view mirror and are in what’s called survivorship to worry about their PSA levels during regular post- treatment checkups, but a rising PSA or prostate-specific antigen level doesn’t necessarily mean the cancer has returned.
Let’s dig into what a rising PSA level post-treatment means with the help of the experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami, a state-of-the-art, center of excellence, radiation cancer treatment center in South Florida.
PSA Decoded
PSA is a protein produced by both normal and cancerous cells within the prostate gland. A PSA test measures your PSA levels in the blood.
Keep in mind, prostate cancer – along with other benign issues – can cause PSA levels to rise in the blood, according to the National Cancer Institute.
During and after treatment for prostate cancer, PSA levels are used to monitor how effective the treatment is and detect any recurrence. However, according to the American Cancer Society, PSA levels can fluctuate so they are only one indicator of what’s happening.
PSA Levels Post Prostate Cancer Surgery
For men who opt for surgery to remove the prostate, PSA levels should drop to low or even undetectable levels after treatment.
“In the weeks after surgery, the PSA should become undetectable, falling to less than 0.1,” according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
A rising PSA after that point can indicate recurrence. That’s why monitoring is important.
Doctors watch how fast PSA levels rise as an indication there could be reason for concern. Research suggests men who have a shorter PSA doubling time – which is the time it takes for the PSA levels to double – have a worse outlook compared to men with a longer doubling time.
PSA Levels Post Radiation for Prostate Cancer
For men who opt for radiation to treat their cancer, PSA levels tend to drop slowly after treatment and may not plateau to their lowest levels until two years post treatment. But the normal cells in the prostate will continue to make some PSA.
“There is no definitive PSA cutoff point that signals success or failure of treatment. That’s because radiation therapy – external-beam or radiation seeds (brachytherapy) – is designed to kill prostate cancer, not normal prostate tissue. It doesn’t kill the entire prostate – and thus, PSA does not go away completely,” the Prostate Cancer Foundation says.
With radiation patients, doctors look for trends in PSA levels after treatment. A one-time rise may not mean the cancer is still there or it has recurred. But repeated testing indicating a rise in levels could be concerning. Doctors also watch for those PSA doubling times. The faster the doubling time, generally the more cause for concern.
There can also be what’s called a PSA bounce with external beam radiation. In these cases, the PSA levels rise for the first few years after treatment, then go back down. Doctors don’t know why this phenomenon occurs.
As doctor’s monitor your PSA levels post-treatment, be your own advocate, and ask questions about any changes or if you need additional testing because of any changes. If in doubt, get a second opinion.
CyberKnife for Prostate Cancer
When it comes to fighting prostate cancer, CyberKnife is an excellent choice for patients to consider. Most patients tolerate CyberKnife treatment very well. Plus, CyberKnife has a very high success rate treating prostate cancer, according to CyberKnife Miami, about 95% when detected early.
- It’s noninvasive.
- There is no anesthesia or cutting.
- There are no risks of surgery like infection and long periods of downtime.
- CyberKnife’s treatments can be done in five therapy sessions over 10 days instead of 42 over three months with other types of radiation treatments.
- The CyberKnife radiation beams, which target and destroy the tumor, are exceedingly precise.
- There is less risk of side effects including impotence and incontinence.
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, call CyberKnife Miami for a consultation at 305-279-2900 or go to our prostate cancer website now for more information.