After Prostate Cancer Treatment

Patients & Families, Cancer Care Alberta

After Treatment

The evidence-based recommendations described below outline the standard follow-up procedures for prostate cancer surveillance once you have finished your external beam radiation treatment (ERBT) and are intended to help you and your primary care provider in knowing the most updated information for follow-up care. These recommendations are not a substitute for your cancer doctor or primary care provider’s clinical judgement and advice.

ON THIS PAGE:
Follow-up|Manage Side Effects|Know Signs & Symptoms of Cancer Returning|Hormone Therapy|Specific Concerns|Support & Recommendations|Ongoing Care

Follow-up

Remember: it is your responsibility to book your follow-up visits with your primary care provider so they can arrange the tests you need.

Since you are doing well, your primary care provider will be in charge of your recommended follow-up, which includes:

  • Arranging tests to check for cancer (surveillance)
  • Continuing to see you for any health conditions you have, or any new problems
  • Referring you to a specialist or back to your cancer doctor if they have any concerns.
  • Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test
  • Review of side effects or other complications from your treatment
  • Bone Density Scan every 2-3 years (for men on Androgen Deprivation Therapy only)

The timing for these tests changes, depending on how long ago your treatment finished, but usually it is once per year. Your oncology team will let your primary health care provider know.

If you need a family doctor, you can find one by calling Health Link (811) or visit Alberta Find a Provider. Once you have a doctor, let them know they can view the healthcare provider follow-up recommendations at ahs.ca/guru.

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Manage Side Effects

Most treatment side effects will get better several weeks and months after your treatment, but it is important to tell your primary care provider about any of your side effects or emotional concerns so they can help you.

The After Treatment Book also has suggestions for managing common side effects and concerns. If you need more information, your cancer centre and the Cancer Care Alberta website has detailed patient education materials to help with Managing Symptoms & Side Effects.

  • Feeling like you need to urinate often
  • Blood in your urine
  • Blood in your stool
  • Diarrhea
  • Loss of control of your bladder or bowels
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Rectal pain

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Know the Signs & Symptoms of Cancer Returning (Recurrence)

A list of general symptoms of cancer recurrence is found in the After Treatment Book, see page 11.

If these symptoms start and do not go away, call your primary care provider right away. They may do tests to see if the cancer has come back or refer you back to the cancer centre.

  • Swelling or lumps in your armpits, groin/pelvic area or neck
  • Bone pain that is new or changing and/or will not go away
    Swelling in the legs
  • Unplanned weight loss

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Hormone Therapy

Read Only If: you are having androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)

You and your cancer doctor will decide together on the type and length of ADT, such as leuprolide (Eligard®) that is right for you. If you are prescribed androgen deprivation therapy:

  • Check with your pharmacist to make sure it will not interact with your other medications.
  • You can get these medications for free at your Cancer Centre Pharmacy. Bring your prescription or ask your doctor’s office to fax refills to your Cancer Centre Pharmacy. If you live out of town, check to see if the Cancer Centre Pharmacy can mail your medication to you.

Androgen deprivation therapy may cause your bones to thin. This is called osteopenia or osteoporosis, and it may increase your risk of breaking a bone. We recommend a bone density scan every 2-3 years. Contact your family doctor to schedule one. You can improve your bone health by exercising regularly, getting enough calcium and vitamin D, limiting alcohol, and not smoking. You can find out more about these side effects by visiting www.lifeonadt.com. 

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Specific Concerns

Treatment for prostate cancer can impact your sexual function, health, relationships, and sometimes causes distress over body image. Strategies and support are also available to help you and your partner with intimacy problems, distress, and adjusting to these changes. See Counselling & Support or Sexual Health & Cancer for resources to help you, and contact information to book an appointment with our Sexual Health Consultants.

Resources for low sexual desire and men’s sexual health are available at your cancer centre or see Cancer & Sexuality, MyHealth.Alberta.ca.

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Support & Recommendations

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Ongoing Care

If there are any concerns about your treatment or cancer returning, your family doctor will refer you back to us.

Note: The follow-up care information on this page is for people who have finished prostate cancer treatment and is based on sample End of Treatment and Transfer of Care letters from the Cancer Guidelines website. These letters have been reviewed and approved by the Provincial Tumour Teams.

This information can help you and your primary care provider understand what follow-up care you may need. It does not replace the advice of your cancer doctor or primary care provider.

At the end of your treatment, your cancer doctor may send you a similar letter with recommendations that are specific to your care.

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