Treatment After Prostate Cancer SurgeryWhile surgeons can successfully remove entire tumors, additional treatment may be recommended after prostate cancer surgery. Depending on the stage of growth that your cancer was in, your doctor may have a few different recommendations. Because malignant cells from the prostate have some characteristics of their origin cells, they can still be detected by the PSA, irregardless of where they are in the body. Therefore, you will still need to undergo this, and some other types of screening after prostate cancer surgery. Basically, in order for a tumor to grow larger than the size of a head of a pin, it must break into the blood supply in order to gain nutrients. By this time, it will be visible on CT scans, and may also begin to show up in PSA exams. Even after prostate cancer surgery, it can take years before a group of rogue cells develops far enough to be detectable via imaging and PSA screening. As a result, doctors usually do not consider your cure to be proven until 3 to 5 years after prostate cancer surgery. In some cases, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy immediately after prostate cancer surgery. While your prostate is being removed, the surgeon will also look for signs that the malignancy has developed clusters of cells in the surrounding lymph nodes. As you may be aware, lymph nodes are found throughout your body, and act as the "cross-town" busses for your immune system cells to enter and exit the blood supply. Unfortunately, once malignant cells reach the lymph nodes, they too can travel all over your body. Not so long ago, men did not begin taking PSA exams early enough. As a result, men in their late 60's and 70's already had advanced prostate cancer with metastasis to other parts of the body. Today, some men may also find themselves in this situation, and need other kinds of treatment after prostate cancer surgery. This may include surgery to remove the tumors at the secondary sites, as well as chemotherapy and radiation. Along with continued monitoring and treatment of the malignancy, other types of treatment may also be required after prostate cancer surgery. Because the prostate is very difficult to reach, damage may occur to surrounding tissues. Urinary and fecal incontinence can and do occur after prostate cancer surgery. While fecal incontinence may clear up on its own, an additional surgical procedure may be required to restore proper urinary function. And, as may be expected, erectile dysfunction may also occur after prostate cancer surgery. A great deal of treatment after prostate cancer surgery focuses on ensuring that the cancer does not not return, or grow in other parts of the body. In addition, surgery also has side effects on organs near the prostate. This can alter bowel and urinary habits, as well as prevent a man from having sexual intercourse. Depending on a man's health and preferences, additional treatments may be effective at alleviating all of these problems.
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