‘This Is How We Do It’ Singer Montell Jordan, 56, Says His Cancer Has Returned, but Optimistic Treatment Will Lead Him to Become a Two-Time Cancer Survivor

The prostate-specific antigen test (PSA) measures the prostate-specific antigen in the blood. An elevated PSA level in the blood does not always mean you have prostate cancer, but it does call for further tests.

RELATED: Check Out SurvivorNet’s Digital Guide to Prostate Cancer.

“My initial reaction was, I didn’t feel any different, and I didn’t have any symptoms,” he explained to the “Today Show.” “For the decade, I had received regular check-ups, but over time, my doctors noticed that my PSA numbers had been increasing.”

That vigilance led to a diagnosis of Gleason 6 prostate cancer—considered low risk but still requiring attention. “I was first diagnosed with Gleason 6,” Jordan said, referring to the scoring system that helps determine the aggressiveness of prostate cancer.

The results of the PSA test provide a Gleason Score. This score ranges from 6 to 10. The higher the score, the more aggressive the cancer. This score, along with other test results, helps doctors determine if cancer is “low risk,” “intermediate risk,” or “high risk.”

WATCH: How Gleason Grade Determines Treatment

Jordan opted for a prostatectomy, a surgical procedure that removes the prostate and surrounding tissue. Though the surgery came with potential side effects like erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, Jordan remained focused on recovery.

“Post-treatment, I’m doing well. I’m still going to get regular check-ups. I have some additional work that needs to be done in October,” he shared.

But just over a year later, Jordan learned the cancer had returned. In a candid interview with fellow survivor Al Roker on the “Today Show,” he opened up about the emotional weight of facing cancer again. “I understood the idea to be a cancer survivor, but I didn’t know there was a thing to be a two-time cancer survivor,” he said.

WATCH: Surgery side effects may or may not be long-term for prostate cancer.

Now, Jordan is channeling his experience into advocacy—using his platform to break down barriers and encourage early detection. “Early detection saves lives. I’ve felt like my music has helped change people’s hearts, and I feel like my medical journey will help save people’s lives. This is personal and not easy to speak about publicly,” he said.

He’s also tackling the stigma that keeps many men from seeking routine screenings. “There is a stigma of prostate cancer and getting checked,” Jordan said. He urges women to be vocal advocates for the men in their lives, adding, “Encourage them to get regular check-ups.”

Jordan’s voice—once synonymous with celebration—is now a powerful call to action in early detection.

Why Prostate Cancer Can Return

Prostate cancer recurrence is not all that uncommon. A study published in the medical journal JAMA followed 1,997 men who had undergone prostate removal surgery. Of those, 304 experienced a recurrence, and about 25% of those cases occurred five or more years after surgery.

Researchers believe that dormant cancer cells can hide in the body for years. The bone marrow, in particular, is considered a key hiding place. This is supported by findings published in the International Journal of Cancer, which noted, “In one autopsy study, approximately 80% of the men who had died from prostate cancer possessed bone metastases.”

Other potential reservoirs for dormant cancer cells include the lymph nodes and the prostate bed—the area where the prostate gland once was—though these are more difficult to study.

Researchers have made significant strides in understanding how prostate cancer can spread early—even when it appears to be under control—and then return months or even years later. One key discovery is that the bones are a common site for prostate cancer to spread. In fact, scientists have found dormant cancer cells hiding in the bone marrow of many patients, even when the disease seems confined to the prostate.

Lab studies, mostly using model systems, have also helped uncover how prostate cancer cells can lie dormant for long periods before becoming active again. While treatments like hormone therapy and radiation after surgery have shown promise, experts agree that more research—both in the lab and in clinical trials—is needed to improve outcomes for patients.

Prostate Cancer Screening and Warning Signs

When you do get screened for prostate cancer, your doctor will run a few tests.

One of the tests is the PSA test, a simple blood test that screens for prostate cancer. It looks for more significant amounts of protein-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. An elevated PSA test does not always mean you have prostate cancer. It could also reflect that your prostate is enlarged, which is common, or it could signal an infection or inflammation.

Your doctor may also conduct a digital rectal exam (DRE) to check your prostate for lumps.

Depending on the results of these tests, imaging scans and a biopsy may be ordered.

WATCH: How Gleason Grade Determines Treatment

Prostate cancer does not always behave the same in every man it impacts. The cancer can be considered “low-risk” and can be slow-growing, and treatment might not be necessary. In other men, the cancer may grow faster or more aggressively, requiring more immediate treatment. Because of this, there is some debate about screening.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men at average risk between the ages of 55 and 69 years talk with their doctor about the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening.

The American Cancer Society recommends that men at age 50 who are at average risk should begin screening. Men who are at high risk of prostate cancer should begin screening at age 40. Men with a close relative diagnosed with prostate cancer should consider annual screenings in their 30s.

SurvivorNet experts suggested that men consider factors like their family history, genes, and age when deciding whether and when to screen.

Symptoms of prostate cancer may include:

• Urinating more often
• Waking up in the middle of the night to pee
• Blood in your urine
• Trouble getting an erection
• Pain or burning when you urinate
• Pain in your back, hips, thighs, or other bones
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue

If You’re Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer, What to Expect for Treatment?

After testing and establishing your risk, your doctor will discuss possible treatment options. These may range from active surveillance to more aggressive options, including surgery and radiation therapy.

WATCH: Coping emotionally after a prostate cancer diagnosis

Surgery is an option for men with any risk group of prostate cancer that hasn’t spread outside of the prostate gland. The type of surgery most often used is called a radical prostatectomy.

During the procedure, the surgeon removes the entire prostate, along with some tissue around it, including the seminal vesicles that release fluid into the semen. Your doctor can perform this through a traditional open procedure with one large or several small incisions, called laparoscopic surgery.

WATCH: Sexual Function Recovery After Prostate Cancer Surgery

Surgery side effects may include erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Fortunately, the side effects are usually temporary, and there are ways to help you manage them.

“Erectile function is so sensitive when we’re dealing with prostate cancer because the nerves that are critical for this function wrap around the prostate; they’re just so intimately connected to the prostate that they can be damaged from a surgical removal of the prostate or through radiation treatment,” Dr. Isla Garraway, a staff urologist in the Veterans Administration (VA) Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, told SurvivorNet.

Doctors often recommend sexual counseling after prostate cancer treatment to help improve sexual function. This approach actively addresses the psychological, emotional, and relationship impacts on sexual health.

Radiation therapy is often done when prostate cancer is caught early and confined to the prostate gland.

Questions for Your Doctor

If you have experienced symptoms associated with prostate cancer or have a screening coming up, here are some questions you may ask your doctor:

• If I had elevated PSA levels, what could be causing that besides cancer?
• How long will it take to learn if my PSA levels warrant further testing?
• What are the treatment options that are best suited for me based on my risk level?
• What financial resources exist to help me with the costs associated with treatment?
• How long will my potential treatment prevent me from working or continuing normal activities?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

---