Hi, Charlotte.  Don't apologize for asking for information.  Support
is what this group is intended to provide and I'm sure you'll find at
least a few people with similar histories who will be happy to share.

My own experience is VERY similar to Isaac's.  The biggest differece
was that I was 52 when I had surgery in 1995, and 57 when I had
radiation in 2000.  My radiation therapy was essentially the same as
planned for Isaac.  I had 36 sessions at 6500 units each.  The
radiation caused my PSA to be undetecable for 5 years.  Then, in 2005,
it started going up again.  We checked my PSA every three months for
five, or maybe six, tests to get a good indication of what was really
happening.  Although the PSA levels were low, the upward trend was not
good.  It seemed that my PSA was going to be doubling about every 6
months.

I'm now on Casodex, a drug used in Androgen Deprivation Therapy.  I've
only had one PSA test since being on that, and the initial indication
is that my PSA is going back down (almost as fast as it was
increasing).

So, a brief summary is that radiation "bought" me another five years
of no detectable PSA.  Now, I'm using another method that appears to
be working - or at least going in the right direction.

That's about as long-term as I am able to address.  It's not the
rosiest of pictures; but, it's not the darkest, either.  If you have
anything else you or Isaac  want to know, my experience with
radiation, etc., please feel free to ask.  I'm happy to share my
experience with anyone who might benefit from the knowledge.  If you'd
prefer to communicate via email, please feel free to do that. Whatever
works.

Best wishes to you and Isaac!

Burney

Some things are different.  I was only 46 when dx'ed and only 47 when it
came back.  My initial PSA was 16 and by Gleason was 3+4.  Post-op Stage was
T3c.

I went through 35 treatments in 2002 and am still alive to tell about it.
My advise to all doing radiation:  Sleep one more hour per night than usual;
drink gallons of water; walk a lot.