A study of nearly 5,000 prostate cancer patients treated with radiation therapy found that the lower the PSA level drops and stays after treatment, the better the chance that the cancer will not return.

Currently, doctors have been less concerned with how low the PSA level goes and more that it drops to a lower level and stays. If a man's PSA level increases after a dip shortly after treatment, physicians generally recommend additional therapy.

In this study, doctors found that the lower the PSA number that the patient reached corresponded with a dramatic decrease in prostate cancer recurrence and spread. This decrease was evident in all risk categories.

In this study, patients were separated in different PSA level ranges based on their lowest score achieved after the radiation treatment. Researchers pointed out that there doesn't seem to be a "magic number" that signifies that the prostate cancer will not return or metastasize at a later date. It does show that the lower the PSA number goes, the lower the risk of return and spread of the prostate cancer.

Recommendations:
If you are being treated for prostate cancer, be sure your healthcare provider tracks your PSA level and that he/she read this important research.

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