Radiation Therapy – After Treatment
At the Weiser Center, we are committed to excellence in patient-centered cancer care long after your final treatment. Just as we are with you before and during treatment, we continue to deliver the compassionate, world-class cancer care you and your partner or caregiver count on to help ensure your healthy future.
Surveillance After Treatment and Follow-Up Care
Regular follow-up care after prostate cancer treatment is essential to monitor for the possibility of your cancer returning (known as recurrence), to manage side effects, and to address quality-of-life issues. These visits are an opportunity for you and your loved ones to discuss any concerns or lifestyle changes that can improve your overall health. The specific schedule and type of follow-up may vary based on the initial treatment, the characteristics of your particular type of prostate cancer, and your individual situation.
Once you complete your treatment, we will schedule follow-up visits with your oncology team typically every three months for the first couple of years and then less frequently. During these visits you’ll have a PSA blood test, and you may have your testosterone levels checked as well.
Following radiation treatment, your PSA levels should decrease and stabilize at a low level, often below 1. If there is a rise in your PSA, it could be an indication that your cancer has returned. In that case, we will schedule you for additional imaging studies such as an MRI or PSMA-PET scan to confirm or rule out recurrence.
This is why it is so important that you keep all your regular follow-up visits. If there is recurrence, we will likely detect it early, when it is easiest to treat. There are a number of treatment options, including radiation treatment and/or hormone therapy that have high success rates even when cancer has returned after initial treatment.
During your follow-up visits, we will also monitor any side effects of radiation and partner with you to manage them. Any rare long-term side effects of radiation, like urinary issues or bowel changes, are also monitored, and we will treat them or provide appropriate supportive care.
These visits are opportunities to discuss any new or persisting symptoms with your doctor or advanced practice provider. We listen attentively and confirm our understanding of your perspective to ensure that we address your concerns.
Radiation and hormone therapy cause different side effects, and there are many options to address them. These side effects can include erectile dysfunction, urinary urgency related to radiation, and hot flashes related to hormone treatment. We engage in meaningful dialogue with you about managing side effects, recognizing and respecting your unique needs and involving you in shared decisions around your care.
Expert, patient-centered care
At the Weiser Center for Prostate Cancer, we lead with empathy and respect each patient’s individual concerns, fostering a warm and receptive environment that honors your journey and includes your partner and caregiver. We deeply value the trust you place in us to care for you and strive to exceed your expectations, supporting you through every step of your follow-up care.