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Assessment of the prostate tissue that has been removed at surgery will give the doctor an indication of how far the cancer has grown within the prostate gland, and if it has spread to surrounding organs. If there has been some spread out of the prostate, the Urologist may recommend post-operative radiotherapy.
The PSA test will also be done after surgery, as the levels of PSA give the best sign if all the cancer has been removed. PSA proteins are produced by both normal and cancerous prostate cells. If surgery has been successful and all the prostate gland, including the cancer, has been removed, PSA proteins should not be detected at 3 months after surgery.
If levels of PSA stay high or continue to rise after surgery, it is a sign that the cancer is still present and continues to grow. Further studies such as a digital rectal examination, a transrectal ultrasound or a bone or CT scan may be done to check if the recurrent cancer growth remains in the area where the surgery was performed or whether it has spread to the bones or other organs of the body. If the cancer remains localised to the prostate region, a course of radiation therapy may be offered to destroy the remaining cancer cells.
Alternatively, or if the recurrent cancer has spread to the bones or other organs, hormone treatment may be started to control the prostate cancer.
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