About Recurrent Prostate Cancer

Your prostate cancer may be back, but you’re not alone

Up to 40% of patients diagnosed and treated have a recurrence within 5 to 10 years

Recurrent prostate cancer is when your cancer has come back after you have had treatment, like prostate surgery or radiation. It can also come back later after being treated with other medicines, including hormone therapy.

Recurrence means that your prostate cancer has returned

And it can happen regardless of what your initial treatment was

Icon of patient getting surgery showing prostate surgery as a treatment option prior to recurrent prostate cancer diagnosis

Prostate surgery

Syringe icon illustrating hormone therapy as one initial treatment option prior to recurrent prostate cancer diagnosis

Hormone therapy

Icon of patient receiving radiation to indicate it's one treatment option prior to recurrent prostate cancer diagnosis

Radiation

Patient with IV icon showing chemotherapy as one initial treatment option prior to recurrent prostate cancer diagnosis

Chemotherapy

What is an elevated PSA level?

After your initial prostate cancer treatment, you likely had regular checkups with your doctor. These checkups usually include a blood test to monitor your prostate specific antigen (PSA).

If your blood test shows that your PSA has gone up after surgery, radiation, or hormone therapy, your doctor will likely order another PSA test to confirm the results.

Graph showing PSA testing during treatment, when PSA levels are low, and when they rise to confirm recurrent prostate cancer

If your PSA is still elevated after the test, recurrent prostate cancer is indicated. Imaging tests may then be scheduled to locate where the prostate cancer has returned in your body.

“By learning about my recurrent prostate cancer and talking with my urologist, I can be my own best advocate.”

Image of middle-aged man in a car

Challenges in locating recurrent prostate cancer

For some patients, recurrent prostate cancer may still be in the prostate if you have had radiation or in the area of the prostate if it has been removed. But the disease can also spread to other parts of the body, including lymph nodes, bones, or other tissues.

Prostate cancer recurrence isn’t limited to the prostate

Graphic showing prostate cancer recurrence is possible in the prostate, pelvic lymph nodes, and sites outside the pelvis

It is important to understand exactly where the recurrent prostate cancer is located in your body so that you and your doctor can choose the most appropriate treatment plan for you.

There are limitations with each of the current imaging tests used to locate recurrent prostate cancer.

While routine imaging tests including bone scans, CT scans, and MRIs can help provide some information about recurrent prostate cancer, these tests have limitations. There are newer advanced imaging tests available today. Talk to your doctor about which imaging tests are right for you.

Chart comparing the pros and cons of bone scans, CT scans, and MRIs for detecting recurrent prostate cancer

NEXT

Find out how Axumin can help detect recurrent prostate cancer

What is Axumin? 

Axumin® (fluciclovine F 18) injection is a diagnostic imaging agent (sometimes called a radiotracer). Axumin is used along with a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging scan for men who have had prior treatment for prostate cancer and now have prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels that are elevated.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What do I need to know about Axumin?

  • As with all diagnostic imaging tests such as x-rays, bone scans and computed tomography (CT) scans, it is possible that the physician (a radiologist or nuclear medicine physician) that reviews your Axumin PET/CT scan can interpret your results incorrectly. This means that a negative Axumin PET/CT scan does not rule out that you have recurrent prostate cancer, and a positive Axumin PET/CT scan does not confirm that you have recurrent prostate cancer.
  • How well Axumin works seems to be affected by PSA levels. As PSA levels go up, an Axumin PET/CT scan is better able to identify recurrent prostate cancer.
  • Serious reactions including anaphylaxis, a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, may occur in patients who receive Axumin.
  • Axumin adds to your long-term overall radiation exposure, which can lead to an increased risk of cancer.

What are the possible side effects of Axumin?

Most commonly reported adverse reactions are:

  • Injection site pain
  • Injection site redness
  • Unusual taste in the mouth

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Axumin. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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