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I have only a small related experience to offer, but I think this is a very interesting question. It seems so natural yet seldom is discussed. I had only a 60Gy adjuvant radiation plan (after surgery) and I also had minimal issues with it and I asked my radiation oncologist if maybe I should do another day. He didn't want to even consider it. Later I figured out why, due to my disease specifics. He said it's purely a question of numbers. In my case a 60Gy treatment should eliminate entirely a 1cm diameter tumor with 90%+ probability. As long as it is located in the radiation field area. Maybe this sort of thinking goes into how your docs are handling your dad's situation, I don't know. I hope others here will have something more helpful to offer. Seems important to understand this issue.
Beth:
The previous poster has good information for you. Certainly, each man has a different case and anecdotal information is worth less than the scientific opinion of his doctors. Generally, higher radiation can provide better rates of success, but at the risk of higher side effects. If the doctors in the case of your father are "recommending" more radiation, then one must assume that they wish to do so, and have assessed his side effects so far and consider it reasonable to continue. Side effects often accumulate for an extended period after radiation is complete, so performance now may not be a true indicator of SE in the future. Your father appears to have significant involvement in his prostate with 70% cores positive (if I read that correct) so perhaps this is what the radiologist is concerned about. A frank discussion with his care team of the potential benefits and risks is the only answer to the situation.
