{"id":4928,"date":"2026-04-20T09:50:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T08:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dumonceau-urologie.fr\/urology\/what-do-i-need-to-monitor-after-my-prostate-cancer-treatment\/"},"modified":"2026-09-10T12:14:58","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T11:14:58","slug":"what-do-i-need-to-monitor-after-my-prostate-cancer-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dumonceau-urologie.fr\/en\/urology\/what-do-i-need-to-monitor-after-my-prostate-cancer-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"What do I need to monitor after my prostate cancer treatment?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"100%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dumonceau-urologie.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/j-ai-besoin-de-surveiller-quoi-apres-mon-traitement-du-cancer-de-la-prostate-vtb-69e2381850411.jpg\" alt=\"Video thumbnail for 'What do I need to monitor after my prostate cancer treatment?'\" style=\"max-width: 100%;height: auto\"><\/p>\n<p>You have been treated for prostate cancer, either with surgery or radiation therapy, and everything went well. This is a major milestone. But treatment does not mark the end of your medical journey. It opens an equally important period: <strong>follow-up care<\/strong> .   <\/p>\n<p>The question is simple and essential: <strong>what should be monitored after prostate cancer treatment, and for how long?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The answer lies in one word: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cancer.ca\/en\/treatments\/tests-and-procedures\/prostate-specific-antigen-psa-test\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PSA<\/a><\/strong> . But it&#8217;s not just about getting a blood test every now and then. You need to understand what you&#8217;re looking for, why you&#8217;re monitoring it, and what a variation can mean.  <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>After treatment, regular follow-up is essential.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>PSA testing is becoming an excellent monitoring marker<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>A rise in PSA levels may indicate a biological recurrence<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Highly effective examinations, such as PET scans at PSMA, now make it possible to locate this recurrence.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align:center\"><iframe title=\"J&amp;apos;ai besoin de surveiller quoi apre\u0300s mon traitement du cancer de la prostate\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sJ0hucmOS_w?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<h2>Is post-treatment follow-up really necessary?<\/h2>\n<p>Yes, without hesitation.<\/p>\n<p>After successful treatment for prostate cancer, it is crucial to maintain <strong>long-term <a href=\"https:\/\/www.has-sante.fr\/jcms\/c_2712050\/fr\/suivi-et-surveillance-des-cancers-recommandations-gui\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">medical follow-up<\/a><\/strong> . This follow-up is not simply a matter of &#8220;checking things out of principle.&#8221; Its purpose is to detect as early as possible any potential recurrence of cancer cells that may have escaped the initial treatment.  <\/p>\n<p>The rule given here is clear: <strong>the patient must be seen every 6 months for 15 years<\/strong> .<\/p>\n<p>This pace may seem long, but it is perfectly justified. Indeed, a relapse does not necessarily occur quickly. It can appear:  <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>6 months<\/strong> into treatment,<\/li>\n<li>at <strong>1 year old<\/strong> ,<\/li>\n<li>at <strong>5 years old<\/strong> ,<\/li>\n<li>even <strong>10 years<\/strong> after the initial treatment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is precisely for this reason that serious monitoring should not be interrupted too early.<\/p>\n<h2>What does follow-up care after prostate cancer include?<\/h2>\n<p>The monitoring is based on two main elements:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>a clinical examination<\/strong> , to ensure that everything is generally alright,<\/li>\n<li><strong>a PSA test<\/strong> , which is the central tool for monitoring.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>PSA is often known as the marker that has been used in cancer screening and diagnosis. But it&#8217;s important to distinguish between two situations: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Before treatment<\/strong> , PSA is an imperfect marker for detecting prostate cancer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>After treatment<\/strong> , it becomes <strong>extremely effective<\/strong> at detecting any possible recurrence of the disease.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This is a fundamental point. PSA is not always a good screening tool, but after treatment, it becomes an excellent monitoring tool. <\/p>\n<h2>How to interpret PSA levels after prostate surgery?<\/h2>\n<p>After surgery for prostate cancer, that is, after removal of the prostate, the logic is simple.<\/p>\n<p><strong>There is no longer a prostate, therefore there should no longer be a measurable PSA level.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In other words, PSA becomes <strong>undetectable<\/strong> in the blood.<\/p>\n<p>In this situation, any reappearance of PSA levels is cause for concern. It may indicate that cancerous prostate cells persist somewhere in the body that were not eliminated by treatment. <\/p>\n<h2>How to interpret PSA levels after radiotherapy?<\/h2>\n<p>After radiotherapy, the interpretation is slightly different.<\/p>\n<p>Why? Because <strong>the prostate is still in place<\/strong> . It was treated, but it wasn&#8217;t removed. So it&#8217;s normal for the <strong>PSA level to remain low<\/strong> .   <\/p>\n<p>In this case, the PSA:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>decreases gradually<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>then <strong>stabilizes at a very low rate<\/strong> .<\/li>\n<li>often around <strong>0.7<\/strong> , a little more or a little less.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This stable low point has a name: <strong>the <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17141830\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nadir<\/a><\/strong> .<\/p>\n<p>Once this nadir is reached, the PSA level generally does not fall further. But above all, <strong>it must not rise again<\/strong> . <\/p>\n<h2>What is a biological relapse?<\/h2>\n<p>When a PSA is rebuilt after having been:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>undetectable after surgery<\/strong> , or<\/li>\n<li><strong>very low and stabilized after radiotherapy<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We are talking about <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK572122\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">biological recurrence<\/a><\/strong> .<\/p>\n<p>This expression is important because it does not necessarily mean that a visible tumor has already reformed.<\/p>\n<p>A biological recurrence means something else: <strong>there are probably still prostate cancer cells in the body<\/strong> , and these cells are starting to become active again.<\/p>\n<p>At this stage:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>There is not necessarily yet a cancer visible on standard imaging.<\/li>\n<li>There are not necessarily any symptoms.<\/li>\n<li>but there is a biological signal that indicates the disease can start again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>That is precisely the whole point of monitoring: <strong>to identify this phase very early<\/strong> , before a new tumor has time to develop.<\/p>\n<h2>Why detecting a relapse early changes everything<\/h2>\n<p>When PSA levels rise again, the goal is not to wait passively. It is necessary <strong>to identify the cells responsible for this increase<\/strong> . <\/p>\n<p>This search may concern several areas:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>the site initially treated<\/strong> , that is to say the region where the prostate was located,<\/li>\n<li><strong>the surrounding fabrics<\/strong> ,<\/li>\n<li><strong>the lymph nodes<\/strong> ,<\/li>\n<li><strong>other organs<\/strong> , especially <strong>bones<\/strong> .<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The idea is simple: if the location of the recurrence is quickly identified, the most appropriate strategy can then be discussed based on:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>of the treatment already received<\/li>\n<li>of the location of the recurrence,<\/li>\n<li>of the patient&#8217;s overall context.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>PET scan at PSMA: the key examination in case of PSA rise<\/h2>\n<p>Today, there is a particularly effective test for detecting a biological recurrence of prostate cancer: <strong>the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.fr\/professionnels-de-sante\/veille\/nota-bene-cancer\/bulletin-n-660-du-6-octobre-2025\/tra201\/prostate-specific-membrane-antigen-pet-for-patients-with-postoperative-recurrence-of-prostate-cancer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PSMA PET scan<\/a><\/strong> .<\/p>\n<p>When PSA levels rise after treatment, this test allows for the detection of persistent prostate cancer cells with high precision.<\/p>\n<p>Its role is crucial, because it helps to answer the real clinical question: <strong>where is the relapse?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Once the location is identified, the subsequent management can be discussed in a much more relevant way.<\/p>\n<h2>In practical terms, what should we remember?<\/h2>\n<p>If you have been treated for prostate cancer, the message is very clear:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Follow-up should not be neglected<\/strong> .<\/li>\n<li><strong>A check-up every 6 months for 15 years is recommended<\/strong> .<\/li>\n<li><strong>PSA is the central marker in this monitoring<\/strong> .<\/li>\n<li><strong>After surgery, PSA levels should be undetectable<\/strong> .<\/li>\n<li><strong>After radiotherapy, PSA levels decrease and then stabilize at a very low level, called the nadir<\/strong> .<\/li>\n<li><strong>Any rise in PSA should raise suspicion of a biological recurrence<\/strong> .<\/li>\n<li><strong>In the event of a recurrence, a PET scan at PSMA is now a reference examination to locate the recurrence<\/strong> .<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>The key point: even when healed, we continue to monitor<\/h2>\n<p>Many men believe that once treatment is complete, the problem is definitively behind them. This is often true clinically, but it never eliminates the need for rigorous follow-up. <\/p>\n<p>You can be treated, feel well, be considered cured, and yet still have to continue monitoring your PSA levels. This isn&#8217;t contradictory. It&#8217;s simply the best way to ensure a safe future.  <\/p>\n<p>Post-treatment PSA testing is not a mere administrative detail or formality. It is <strong>a powerful monitoring tool<\/strong> , capable of detecting the presence of residual cancer cells early, before they cause visible disease. <\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>After treatment for prostate cancer, monitoring remains an essential part of care. It relies primarily on <strong>regular clinical follow-up<\/strong> and <strong>PSA testing<\/strong> . <\/p>\n<p>PSA levels are not interpreted in the same way after surgery and after radiotherapy, but in both cases, an increase should be taken seriously. It may indicate a <strong>biochemical recurrence<\/strong> , that is, the persistence of cancer cells that must be identified quickly. <\/p>\n<p>Today, <strong>PET scans at PSMA<\/strong> play a major role in locating this recurrence and guiding the subsequent therapeutic strategy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The right approach, therefore, is to continue monitoring relentlessly, even when everything is going well.<\/strong>  This is often how one maintains a decisive advantage over the disease.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You have been treated for prostate cancer, either with surgery or radiation therapy, and everything went well. This is a major milestone. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4626,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-urology"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dumonceau-urologie.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dumonceau-urologie.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dumonceau-urologie.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dumonceau-urologie.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dumonceau-urologie.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4928"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.dumonceau-urologie.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4928\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4971,"href":"https:\/\/www.dumonceau-urologie.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4928\/revisions\/4971"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dumonceau-urologie.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dumonceau-urologie.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dumonceau-urologie.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dumonceau-urologie.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}