Recurrence of prostate cancer after 18 years

Hello Hayday 

A warm welcome to the Macmillan Online Prostate Community, although I am so sorry to find you here. I am Brian one of the Community Champions here on the Community - I am also in my 4th year on my personal Prostate Cancer journey.

The simple answer to your question is yes, the cancer can return as you still have a Prostate. The surprising thing is it's more likely to come back in the early years after the initial treatment. Most men if they get a recurrence get it in the first 5 years, only about 20% of men wait longer!!

i think it's likely it's back as your PSA is rising slowly and it's not aggressive. The PSA for a 67 year old should be below 4, so 6 monthly checks don't sound too bad. A fact to remember is that 98% of men with Prostate Cancer die WITH it not OF it!!.

I do hope that helps - feel free to ask any questions, nothing is too trivial.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hello Hayday and welcome. We all worry if there is any rise after having treatment for prostate cancer. The general rule to determine if there is a recurrence in your situation is if the PSA rises above 2 or if there is a rapid doubling time. Your PSA is increasing at a slow rate at the moment. After radiotherapy the prostate gland remains intact and can recover some function so it is possible that you could have a recurrence or a cell may have lodged elsewhere after your initial diagnosis and has decided to start multiplying. Whatever is happening it is slow so I would expect the experts to monitor your PSA at regular intervals. There is a scan which has been developed specifically for prostate cancer called a PSMA PET scan which will show up prostate cancer anywhere in the body. Things have changed a lot since you were diagnosed 18 years ago and IF you have a recurrence there are now a lot of treatment options.

thank you for your reply 

thank you for your reply, goes in line what I have been reading so far, just would be surprised after all these years if it did come back. I wish you and your husband well you have been on quite a journey

just wondering if anybody knows if riding a exercise bike 45 minutes 3 days in a row right before the test could cause a raise in psa from.58 to .72, reading conflicting reports thanks

Good Afternoon Hayday 

The answer is YES it can. Vigorous exercise before a PSA test can cause a rise in the test result.

Best wishes - Brian.

That’s a shame. I was thinking about resurrecting my old touring bike for a bit of exercise in the spring.

Hey Beerandrocks 

Don't let me stop you cycling to the pub!!  - it's only vigorous exercise a few days before a PSA test - exercise is good for you. 

Best wishes - Brian.