The Radiation Bounce
 

Following any radiation treatment of the prostate cancer about 35% of the time there will be a bounce in the PSA - that is the PSA will rise and then go back down.  This usually occurs over about a year (we usually only test every six months for the studies).  However I  have found that there may be a number of bounces that occur that can be seen if the PSA is taken on a monthly basis.


These bounces can be anywhere from 2 to 5 years out (give or take a few months) and will usually be a PSA of less than 1 to as high as 12 (most in the 1 to 2 area).  The bounce has been seen to be out 7 years.


It is my belief that if you treat the bounce with a NSAID (Ibuprofen (Advil) is good) for about 2 to 3 weeks and retake the PSA it will usually be down.  Actually one would be better off to take a NSAID (again Ibuprofen is good) from the beginning of radiation to maybe at least a couple of years.


Therefore when your PSA beings to rise following radiation - think about the bounce/bump, read this and the studies again.


There have been a number of studies on the bounce and instead of printing them all here I have added them to the PHID (Prostate-Help Information Database) in a special Topic of their own.  You can see and read the abstracts at:


The Radiation Bounce/Bump 


Additional Readings:


ASTRO: Post-Radiation PSA Bounce Common But Not a Worry 


PSA "Bounce" After Radiation for Prostate Cancer Does Not Appear Related to Survival, Cure 


Largest PSA Bounce Study Eases Worry Of Prostate Cancer Returning

 

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