The ACS has released evidence- and expert-based guidelines for the management of prostate cancer survivors by PCPs, which address promotion of healthy lifestyles, surveillance for disease recurrence, screening for second primary cancers, and evaluation and management of adverse physical and psychosocial effects caused by the disease and its treatment. Annual DRE is among the recommendations for follow-up.
Serum PSA levels should be assessed every 6-12 months during the first 5 years of follow-up and then should be rechecked annually.
Patients on watchful waiting are treated only if they develop symptomatic progression of their disease. No curative therapy is administered. A DRE and PSA test are performed periodically to determine when a bone scan and CT might be warranted and if hormone therapy is necessary. The results can also be used to determine when bone-directed treatments are appropriate to avoid serious morbidity.
Imaging studies should be considered in the case of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy.
Learn more about the long-term monitoring of prostate cancer.
Medscape © 2022 WebMD, LLC
Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Cite this: Fast Five Quiz: Do You Know the Current Guidelines for the Screening and Treatment of Prostate Cancer? - Medscape - Apr 18, 2022.
Comments