Learn what you need to know if your prostate cancer comes back. This resource was produced in partnership with Lantheus.
Diagnostic imaging may help you and your doctor understand your disease For men with recurrent prostate cancer,
30 % ~
Recurrent disease is common and occurs in about a third of the men who receive treatment intended to cure prostate cancer
• After surgery or radiation treatment intended to cure prostate cancer, about 20%-30% of patients experience recurrent disease. This is when cancer comes back after treatment • In prostate cancer, recurrent disease is often diagnosed due to rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels
• Other tests patients may receive to confirm recurrence include:
– Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) for those who have not had their prostate removed, to check for an enlarged prostate – Additional biopsies or diagnostic imaging , which are useful whether or not the prostate has been removed, to help understand if the cancer has spread to other organs
When prostate cancer recurs, diagnostic imaging may offer you and your doctor a more accurate picture of the disease
• Your doctor may use diagnostic imaging to understand where the cancer is and how best to treat it – PET (positron emission tomography) scan, bone scan, or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) are all common tools for understanding cancer better
• Successful diagnostic imaging may help you and your doctor develop a treatment plan that is right for you. It may also lead to earlier treatment and a better opportunity for that treatment to be successful
Accurate diagnostic imaging may allow you and your doctor to make more informed treatment decisions
What does it mean when prostate cancer metastasizes? Without successful treatment, prostate cancer often spreads, or metastasizes, to different parts of the body
BONES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY
PELVIC AREA
PROSTATE AREA
LYMPH NODES
Outcomes are best when prostate cancer is treated before it metastasizes (called localized disease). Outcomes become worse as the disease spreads to nearby areas, including lymph nodes both in and around the pelvis (regional metastasis), or to the bones and other parts of the body (distant metastasis). Diagnostic imaging may help determine if you have localized or metastatic disease, which can help your doctor decide how best to treat it.
Looking for more support with understanding your diagnosis? Follow these advocacy groups:
TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR TO SEE HOW IMAGING CAN INFORM YOUR TREATMENT PLAN
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