In some men, PSA levels will rise during hormone therapy. If this happens to you, this may be a sign that your cancer has become resistant to this form of treatment. Recurrent prostate cancer is a major area of research, and new treatments are being developed all the time. Now is the time for a thorough discussion with your doctor, to assess the situation and explore other treatment options as needed. Here are some questions to ask your doctor.
- Since my PSA is rising again, do we discontinue the androgen deprivation therapy?
- Are there additional hormone therapy approaches that we should explore?
- Should I get blood tests and a bone scan to determine if the cancer has spread to my bones?
- Is there evidence that the cancer has spread to my bones? If so, how can we treat it, slow down the progression or prevent bone pain?
- Is it important to consider the sequencing of treatment options so that we can preserve as many options as possible in the future?
- Should we consider chemotherapy?
- Are there other clinical trials of investigational drugs that might help slow down the disease progression?
- What are the side effects of the treatment plan that we are considering?
- Are there dietary changes I can make to optimize my treatment? What is the ideal exercise program?
- Are there any other specialists whom we should add to my treatment team to gain an additional perspective on treating my disease?
- Should I consider joining a clinical trial? How do they work, and how do I find out about them?