As I understand it, salvage radiation is done after a prostate has been removed, but scans show some cancerous cells are still present.
I haven't had it done, so I'll let those who have chime in.
3 1/2 years after my prostatectomy, my PSA started rising. When it hit .2 they gave me a 6 month Lupron shot And two months later, gave me salvage radiation.
Salvage radiation is where they radiate the prostate bed where the prostate used to be, the area around it, lymph nodes near it, in an attempt to kill any cancer that has reoccurred. In my case, it lasted for 2 1/2 years before my PSA started rising again. In some cases, it completely eliminates the active cancer and many people have no reoccurrence. I have a genetic problem BRCA2, which prevents my body from correcting DNA errors so the cancer keeps coming back for me. Some people do have a reoccurrence after this at which point they go on ADT like I did.
Salvage radiation is commonly used for the prostate bed after prostate removal with the discovery of a biological re-occurrence but sometimes, even when the prostate has not been removed. If you are thinking you may need salvage radiation, you may want to consider the Mridian or Elekta unity radiation machines, which have built in, real-time MRI, as they will minimize side effects while maximizing precision.
Salvage radiation is commonly used for the prostate bed after prostate removal with the discovery of a biological re-occurrence but sometimes, even when the prostate has not been removed. If you are thinking you may need salvage radiation, you may want to consider the Mridian or Elekta unity radiation machines, which have built in, real-time MRI, as they will minimize side effects while maximizing precision.
3 1/2 years after my prostatectomy, my PSA started rising. When it hit .2 they gave me a 6 month Lupron shot And two months later, gave me salvage radiation.
Salvage radiation is where they radiate the prostate bed where the prostate used to be, the area around it, lymph nodes near it, in an attempt to kill any cancer that has reoccurred. In my case, it lasted for 2 1/2 years before my PSA started rising again. In some cases, it completely eliminates the active cancer and many people have no reoccurrence. I have a genetic problem BRCA2, which prevents my body from correcting DNA errors so the cancer keeps coming back for me. Some people do have a reoccurrence after this at which point they go on ADT like I did.
I'm gonna ask my oncologist about my genetic testing results. I see him this week prior to my fourth infusion. Thanks again for always willing to help us that are unlearned.
3 1/2 years after my prostatectomy, my PSA started rising. When it hit .2 they gave me a 6 month Lupron shot And two months later, gave me salvage radiation.
Salvage radiation is where they radiate the prostate bed where the prostate used to be, the area around it, lymph nodes near it, in an attempt to kill any cancer that has reoccurred. In my case, it lasted for 2 1/2 years before my PSA started rising again. In some cases, it completely eliminates the active cancer and many people have no reoccurrence. I have a genetic problem BRCA2, which prevents my body from correcting DNA errors so the cancer keeps coming back for me. Some people do have a reoccurrence after this at which point they go on ADT like I did.
My prostrate was removed in 2005. No mention of salvage radiation from my urologist. Only went to 2 f/u appts (shame on me) as I recall my last psa was .08 probably in 2006.
My prostrate was removed in 2005. No mention of salvage radiation from my urologist. Only went to 2 f/u appts (shame on me) as I recall my last psa was .08 probably in 2006.
@asolidrock
They don’t use salvage radiation unless your PSA rises to .2 After surgery. If you didn’t get tested until you had metastasis, then it’s too late to do salvage radiation. It would never be discussed with you unless your PSA started rising. It took 3 1/2 years after surgery before my PSA hit .2, Then they did do salvage radiation.
I am undergoing salvage radiation with a PSA of 0.11. Jeff’s statement that a PSA of 0.2 is the threshold for salvage radiation is generally true assuming that your only evidence of recurrence is a rise in PSA. Other evidence for a recurrence changes the game. In my case, I had a palpable nodule in my prostate bed that lit up like a Christmas tree on a PSMA PET scan (SUVmax =13.4, which is intensely high). A pelvic MRI furthered confirmed the local recurrence. Three oncologists concurred that there was clear evidence of a recurrence, and that salvage radiation +/- ADT was the appropriate course of treatment. I’m a bit of a statistical outlier in many regards, but PCa and PCa treatment is all a game of odds.
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As I understand it, salvage radiation is done after a prostate has been removed, but scans show some cancerous cells are still present.
I haven't had it done, so I'll let those who have chime in.
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Hug
4 Reactions3 1/2 years after my prostatectomy, my PSA started rising. When it hit .2 they gave me a 6 month Lupron shot And two months later, gave me salvage radiation.
Salvage radiation is where they radiate the prostate bed where the prostate used to be, the area around it, lymph nodes near it, in an attempt to kill any cancer that has reoccurred. In my case, it lasted for 2 1/2 years before my PSA started rising again. In some cases, it completely eliminates the active cancer and many people have no reoccurrence. I have a genetic problem BRCA2, which prevents my body from correcting DNA errors so the cancer keeps coming back for me. Some people do have a reoccurrence after this at which point they go on ADT like I did.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
7 ReactionsSalvage radiation is commonly used for the prostate bed after prostate removal with the discovery of a biological re-occurrence but sometimes, even when the prostate has not been removed. If you are thinking you may need salvage radiation, you may want to consider the Mridian or Elekta unity radiation machines, which have built in, real-time MRI, as they will minimize side effects while maximizing precision.
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Hug
5 ReactionsWell I was just curious about what it meant in case my oncologist thinks I need it. Thanks for your response.
I'm gonna ask my oncologist about my genetic testing results. I see him this week prior to my fourth infusion. Thanks again for always willing to help us that are unlearned.
My prostrate was removed in 2005. No mention of salvage radiation from my urologist. Only went to 2 f/u appts (shame on me) as I recall my last psa was .08 probably in 2006.
@asolidrock
They don’t use salvage radiation unless your PSA rises to .2 After surgery. If you didn’t get tested until you had metastasis, then it’s too late to do salvage radiation. It would never be discussed with you unless your PSA started rising. It took 3 1/2 years after surgery before my PSA hit .2, Then they did do salvage radiation.
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Like -
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Hug
1 ReactionI am undergoing salvage radiation with a PSA of 0.11. Jeff’s statement that a PSA of 0.2 is the threshold for salvage radiation is generally true assuming that your only evidence of recurrence is a rise in PSA. Other evidence for a recurrence changes the game. In my case, I had a palpable nodule in my prostate bed that lit up like a Christmas tree on a PSMA PET scan (SUVmax =13.4, which is intensely high). A pelvic MRI furthered confirmed the local recurrence. Three oncologists concurred that there was clear evidence of a recurrence, and that salvage radiation +/- ADT was the appropriate course of treatment. I’m a bit of a statistical outlier in many regards, but PCa and PCa treatment is all a game of odds.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsWhen I had my first PET Scan my lymph node in clavicle was like SUV of 22 and 24 in pelvic region along with a small spot on my back.
@asolidrock
Was it treated?