After prostate cancer surgery, doctors monitor prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels to check if any cancer remains. If PSA levels stay high, it could mean that some cancer cells are still present, which can lead to worse outcomes.
Currently, doctors usually check PSA levels about six to eight weeks after surgery. However, a new study from Mass General Brigham, published in JAMA Oncology, suggests that this timeline is too short and could lead to unnecessary treatments.
Researchers found that waiting at least three months before making treatment decisions provides a more accurate picture of whether the cancer has truly returned.
Dr. Anthony D’Amico, senior author of the study and chief of Genitourinary Radiation Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, explained the issue. “If PSA is checked too soon, doctors might mistakenly think the cancer has come back. This can lead to unnecessary referrals for radiation and hormone therapy.”
D’Amico noted that patients who had very high PSA levels (greater than 20) before surgery may take longer than three months to clear the PSA from their blood. In such cases, testing too early could give misleading results.
The key takeaway from the study is that doctors should wait longer—at least three months—before determining if PSA levels are persistently high. This could prevent unnecessary treatments and ensure that patients receive the most appropriate care based on a more accurate assessment of their condition.
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The research findings can be found in JAMA Oncology.
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