I talk with a friend and co-worker who underwent a radical prostatectomy back in 2011 and now has a recurrence. My experience and initial back pain led him to get his PSA checked, revealing he may have prostate cancer again, 12 years after his prostate was removed. Though his level is only 0.4, it's high considering he doesn't have a prostate. He's facing another diagnosis of prostate cancer but is now armed with new knowledge.