It’s funny that just 24 hours after having a discussion with my doctor about this very topic, this article appears on one of my social media news feeds.
My medical team seems reluctant to embrace some of the newer studies like this, sticking to the 0.2 ng/ml definition of biochemical recurrence that’s been the standard for years and years. That makes me wonder how long it takes before the medical community accepts the newer data and studies, and shifts treatment regimens to the new guidance.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not ready to hop on a table and get radiated just because of this paper (or the two others earlier in the year along the same lines), but it is something that I’ll be keeping an eye on going forward.
More than anything at this point, I’m just sharing an observation of how the medical research community and the medical community at large can sometimes be at odds with each other, knowing how conflicting and confusing it can be from a patient’s perspective. It just reinforces my belief that you have to do your own research, be your own advocate, and make decisions that YOU are comfortable with based on what you’ve learned.
—Dan
For men who have had prostate cancer surgery, radiation therapy at the first sign of a rising PSA level can reduce the chances of the cancer recurring.
Dan's Journey through Prostate Cancer 
You are so right about doing your own research and being your own advocate. Until something has become the “standard of care,” which I believe is set by a committee, docs are reluctant to do anything but that. I’m told it’s because of fear of lawsuits.
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It seems logical does it not? Yet “they” advised me to wait til psa reached 30.””All the better to see the tumours, my dear!” Talk about the big bad wolf!!
You are correct Dan, be your own doctor!
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I’m sure I was told that they don’t do radiation a second time, I haven’t had surgery but I’ve had 8 weeks of radiation. Not sure that helped any though.
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