A recurrence means that the prostate cancer has not been cured by the initial treatment. Surviving prostate cancer cells have become evident again on evaluation.
Usually after surgery to remove the prostate, PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels in the blood decrease and eventually become almost undetectable. After radiation therapy, PSA levels usually drop to a stable and low level.
If PSA levels begin to rise at any time after treatment, a local or distant recurrence may be occurring, requiring additional testing.