Prostate cancer recurrence during radiotherapy starts less than two months in

URO TODAY: Recurrence of prostate tumours starts no later than 58 days in the course of radiotherapy for prostate cancer, according to a new study. READ MORE>

Read Full Post »

Prostate cancer patients with Gleason score 6 very unlikely to develop late recurrence

URO TODAY: Prostate cancer patients with Gleason score 6 disease are very unlikely to develop late recurrence and might be candidates for less-intense follow-up once they have passed the five-year mark. READ MORE>

Read Full Post »

Most men whose prostate cancer recurs still survive

REUTERS: Men who show signs that their disease has returned after prostate cancer treatment are still more likely to die of other causes, a new study in US veterans shows. READ MORE>

Read Full Post »

Researchers question need for annual PSA tests on ‘low risk’ patients after prostate surgery

NEW PROSTATE CANCER INFOLINK:  How often after prostate surgery should a “low risk” patient have his PSA tested to check if the cancer is coming back? READ MORE>

Tollefson et al. conclude that,  in low-risk patients, the risk of biochemical failure is inversely proportional to time for which the PSA is undetectable after radical prostatectomy.

They go on to suggest that taking PSA levels every two years should be sufficient to identify the majority of low-risk patients who experience biochemical progression.

The “New” Prostate Cancer InfoLink would certainly agree that annual PSA testing is probably unnecessary in the majority of patients who are treated surgically for low-risk disease if their PSA is undetectable after surgery.

However, the key question is how long should annual PSA testing be carried out before the patient can be switched to testing every two (or perhaps even every three) years.

Based on this paper, it would seem likely that even low-risk patients should all receive at least annual testing for three years after surgery.

Read Full Post »

Gene variation gives one in five men greater risk of prostate cancer recurrence

URO TODAY: One in five men have a DNA variation that increases the risk of prostate cancer recurring after surgery, even though other factors (early diagnosis, low aggression, etc) may be in their favour. READ MORE> and HERE>

Department of Radiation Oncology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, US:
The A/G genotype of rs10895304 is predictive of decreased recurrence-free survival in patients with clinically localised prostate cancer.

Our data suggest that for this subset of patients, prostatectomy alone may not be adequate for local control.

This is a novel and relevant marker that should be evaluated for improved risk stratification of patients who may be candidates for adjuvant radiation therapy to improve local control.

Read Full Post »

How long will a patient survive if his prostate cancer comes back?

NEW PROSTATE CANCER INFOLINK: How long have you got to live if your prostate cancer spreads after initial treatment?

We have been told that the median survival of a man diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer today may be as much as 5-6 years, but actual data to support this belief are very hard to come by, writes Mike Scott. READ MORE>

Read Full Post »

Bigger the prostate tumour removed, greater the risk of recurrence

URO TODAY: The size of your prostate tumour may predict whether you’ll get a recurrence of the disease after a prostatectomy – the bigger the tumour, the more the risk. READ MORE>

Read Full Post »

Undetectable PSA doesn’t always mean prostate cancer hasn’t come back

URO TODAY: Medical researchers have described the case of a 61-year-old man who developed extensive tumours nine years after prostate cancer treatment, even though his PSA level was undetectable. READ MORE>

Read Full Post »

Active surveillance may not be wise choice for younger men with low risk prostate cancer

URO TODAY: Watchful waiting may not be a wise choice for younger men diagnosed with low risk prostate cancer, a new study suggests.

Our pathologic findings and risk of biochemical recurrence after open radical prostatectomy question the wisdom of active surveillance in men with low-risk disease who have “long” life expectancies. READ MORE>

Read Full Post »

Nuclear medicine radio tracer could detect recurring prostate cancer cells

PHYSORG.COM: A radio-tracer known as anti-18F-FACBC could be used to detect and differentiate tumors recurring in prostate cancer, and metastatic cancers that develop in the surrounding lymph nodes. READ MORE>

Read Full Post »