Table of Contents

Chapter 5: "Secondary" Local Treatment

f. Summing It All Up

When looking at the different options for secondary local therapy, two things become very clear. First, practitioner skill and expertise remain crucial to the success of these treatment options. Surgeons must navigate through radiation-damaged tissue, and radiation oncologists must orient the dose planning around the anatomical changes caused by surgery. Greater experience at performing these types of procedures will help to minimize side effects while maximizing efficacy.

Second, and most importantly,the best outcomes are seen in those men whose PSA levels are low and whose disease has not spread too far. Primary therapy can be curative, but does not always result in 100% long-term disease-free survival rates. Regular monitoring of PSA levels after primary therapy is key, as is prompt initiation of treatment upon disease recurrence. The earlier the treatment is begun, the better the likelihood of improved results.