(Cut off; continuing)
undetectable (less than .1)
Post-op pathology confirmed Gleason 9, together with extra prostatic extension (EPE), meaning some cancer cells had gotten out of the prostate, but were found within the surgical boundary.
Proceeded with IMRT salvage radiation treatment to the entire pelvic region (WPRT) including pelvic lymph nodes, together with a short course of ADT , 4 mos Orgovyx.
Looking forward to a good PSA test in November.
Your questions: My lay person understanding is that the current trend is to not radiate immediately following surgery, wait for first PSA reading and then evaluate the status. Also, giving radiation a few months after surgery allows the pelvic region to recover first. It is believed that biochemical recurrence BCR) such as mine indicates residual cancer cells in the pelvic region. My PSMA PET scans did not identify cancer, so the pelvic region is the likely location for cancer cells that escaped the prostate.
Again, I would choose the same path at age 72, now 73.
Best wishes to you and everyone suffering from cancer.