Cancer after surgery

[jdfamily]

I am curious about potential of cancer spreading after surgery to remove prostrate. Is there any evidence that the surgery might aggravate or stimulate cancer cells in other areas? Just talking with others who have gone through this and had their cancer show up in other areas. Thanks.

[Magnus1964]

If all Pca is contained in the prostate then there is a good chance of getting it all. Any irritation would not matter.

[Tall_Allen]

It has been known to happen, but seems to be very rare:

prostatecancer.news/2016/08...

[SPEEDYX]

I am sure cells can escape likewise the medical experts do the best they can with follow therapies etc to prevent

[Stevecavill]

When others have said their cancer had spread after surgery, it's most likely it had already spread before the surgery. But it's very hard to see very small metastases (cancer "spread") on even the best PET scan. You only know it had spread when your PSA starts to rise after surgery.

[dadzone43]

Cells spread. It is their nature.

Whether through the blood stream, through the lymphatics, through direct extension from the prostate gland or even from the margins of the resection.

[JPnSD]

This was a real concern for me as well...the thought that the robotic surgery itself might "free" cancer cells when the prostate was removed, and then take root elsewhere. I have been told by several medical experts that this is a low probability...but no one has said no probability. All we can do is attempt to take the choices put before us one day at a time, make an informed decision and hope for the best.

[jdfamily]

Thanks all, I appreciate your thoughts and input. Now am on a three month schedule to monitora psa levels with an oncologist and a urologist, so will rely on their expertise

[CHPA]

I’ve never heard of what you suggest though I’m just a very interested patient.

Take a look at Memorial Sloan Kettering’s web site. They collect tons of cancer patient outcomes and make it searchable. You enter your numbers and they provide your statistical odds.