Definition of CRPC?

Has anyone been diagnosed castrate resistant without PSA rise or progression of disease? Husband's PSA at diagnosis (12/2016) was 74, Gleason 4+3, 3 bone mets and lymph nodes. After taxotere his PSA went down to 1.2. Started Zytiga and his PSA has remained at >.06 since 12/2017. Oncologist wants him to try Provenge and he qualifies since his files say he's castrate resistant.

The Definition of Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer that I found: defined by disease progression despite androgen depletion therapy and may be present as continuous rise in Sereum Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA Levels), the progression of pre-existing disease/or new metastases

Can one be diagnosed as CRPC due to initial diagnosis?

Granted he would reach CRPC eventually I just hate that it's already come to that and I don't understand why.

We won't see the doctor for another 3 months as he just received his 3 month Lupron shot so I can't ask him and I don't feel it's important enough to bother him.

I found out that he was considered CRPC from a nurse who looked at his file while I was on the phone with the office. The Oncologist has never used the term that I know of.

Thank you in advance!

JNF my understanding is that even if one is castrate resistant, Lupron (or it's equivalent) is still given as some of the cells will continue to respond to the Lupron. Oncologist usually add additional treatments such as Zytiga, Xtandi or chemo to hit those cells that are no longer responding to the Lupron. Prostate cancer cells have a tendency to mutate into something else several times. They have a strong desire (sadly) to live.

It will be interesting to see if the insurance company asks for proof, and if they do, what sort of proof because the scan (happily) and the PSA won't show it.

Thanks for responding.

Logoslidat - you always make sense. Am I remembering correctly that you live in Hawaii? If so, Mahalo.

Important...to me,,, edit bump for Union98

You great spot...to stay...We are on Maui...Wife from Big Island...that where I met her back in the late...lived 5 years on Molokai...which was fabulous...went there with a 6 month old left with a 6 month old and one in between..We love maui...but do need to get away...it gets pretty small...You had a good stretch of wx if I recall...deep deep...blues...greens...and rust brown...as you have discovered...the traffic and drivers...are nuts...wasn't like that back in the day...but what is...regards..

Union,
First, let me say that your husband and I have been on VERY similar trajectories these past two years. As you'll see from my sig below, I had PSA of around 60, then started casodex, then Lupron, then a few months later did 6 docetaxel sessions beginning in Feb of '18. After all that, PSA was around 0.7 and a C11 Acetate scan showed much reduced bone mets from prior year. 90-95% reduction. Then I stopped Casodex and started Zytiga (same day) a few months ago. PSA drops continued to 0.6 for a few months, then 0.5 and latest 0.4. Still on 3-month Lupron, Zytiga, prednisone and xgeva (for bone mets)...
My question for you is: Do you NOT think the Zytiga is working, even though you've been at 0.6 for quite awhile? I'll have to read up on the CRPC, but I've been under the impression that even if I stayed at 0.4, the Zytiga was "helping to keep it there" as opposed to having become ineffective.
Haven't done much to respond to your question (!) but wanted to share and to ask a question of my own. All the best to you and your husband in 2019! He's SO lucky to have you!
Steve