@jeffmarc It’s my understanding that with radiation;
> they don’t “melt the whole thing down”
> they don’t “obliterate the whole prostate”
> the prostate is not “effectively gone”

The prostate is still intact, about 1/3 the size that it was, still producing PSA, but does have some damage.

The DNA in all the cells are damaged, but the cancer cells are unable to repair themselves, and die as they try to multiply. The healthy cells that were unable to repair themselves also die as they try to multiply. (Both being reasons why the 1/3 size.)

The healthy cells that were able to repair themselves continue to function, producing PSA (though now at “new normal” lower levels).

Unlike a prostatectomy, where the entire prostate is removed, the goal of radiation is to kill the cancerous cells, and leave behind as many healthy cells as possible.