Elevated Psa After Surgery And Much Treatment

My father about 20 years ago had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, had surgery and did fine for about 4 years and then his PSA started rising. It has remained high all this time. He has been on hormone therapy, radiation, 2-3 different types of chemotherapy and it continues to be high. He is also very good about nutrients and eating well.
At one point before the chemotherapy they found a spot on a lymph node. That was just a year or two ago. They have done bone scans, cat scans, liver scans, other types of diagnostic tests and that was the only sign of cancer. I assume there could be something hidden somewhere they have not found until a year or so ago. It was two years ago that they found the spot on the lymph node and are just now redoing a bone scan and a cat scan.
My question is they are considering chemotherapy again. If they do not find any more cancer and the PSA remains elevated why continue the chemotherapy? Without any sign of cancer (unless it is still in the lymph node) why do they continue to do chemotherapy? We feel like they are shooting in the dark. Does an elevated PSA definately mean there is a cancer somewhere?
Thanks
Diane

an elevated PSA is indicative of prostate cancer in the setting you describe. The surgery did not get all the cancer. The good news is there is no sign of spread. The elevated PSA can be treated with hormones, but at some point it stops working and you have hormone independant prostate cancer. Then chemotherapy is the best option. You need to do something or the cancer WILL eventually spread.

HI Diane, my husband is a prostate cancer survivor, it will be 7 years on the 15th of this month, he did not have the radical surgery, he had the seed implant, which was a God sent! Elevated PSA's are a sign of cancer, his PSA's were 14.7 when he had the implant, it was done by outpatient and home the same day, only missed 3 days of work! He has his PSA's done on a regular basis of course, and they have always been below 0! You have to find a Dr that will do the Theraseed implant of course, I don't know if you can have it done after the radical surgery or not, but might be something to check into, hope this helps you! God bless, Pat

I'm just new to his having been diagnosed 8 weeks ago and had RP surgery a month ago....but PSA levels post teatment means SOMETHING is going on. However, a person can have PSA recurrence without apparent spread of cancer for quite some time...but it should be addressed. I'd take your question to the American Cancer Society Helpline or call the Prostate Cancer Research Institute --- both are excellent resourses (google them for phone numbers)....good luck!