TV tour guide Rick Steves’ announcement of his prostate cancer diagnosis this week is drawing attention to the disease and the importance of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening.
In a statement posted on his X (formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday, Steves said he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will undergo surgery next month after finishing filming two new shows in France over the next three weeks.
Rick Steves speaks onstage at the Paramount Theater in Austin, Texas on December 3, 2014.
Rick Kern/WireImage/Getty Images
“I will probably have surgery in late September, be confined to bed for a month, and – God willing – be cancer-free and back on my feet by the end of October,” he wrote. “I have great faith in my doctor and in the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. And I have much more to be thankful for… including the support of friends and family and the firm belief that I am in good hands.”
Steves, known for his travel shows such as “Rick Steves’ Europe” and “Travel with Rick Steves,” added in the statement that the diagnosis does not worry him too much.
“Although the statistics tell me I should be fine, I’ve been lucky to never have to spend a night in the hospital – and I approach this adventure almost as if it were an amazing, really important journey,” he explained. “I feel good about my positive attitude – and I expect to take home some delightful, if intangible, souvenirs like: appreciating the little things and seeing the vibrancy in them; appreciating the good in people and the treasure of friends and family; being amazed by modern medicine and the army of amazing, smart and dedicated people who make it possible; appreciating what a blessing life, health and this world are, and – just in general – being more grateful.”
Rick Steves visits Maine to support the Yes on 1 campaign on October 17, 2016 in Portland, Maine.
Derek Davis/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
He added: “I look forward to many more years of happy travels, exciting collaborations and wonderful friendships. Thank you for your love and support (and any ‘travel tips’ you have for me as I embark on this journey).”
How common are deaths from prostate cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men, the most common being lung cancer.
Although prostate cancer can be a serious condition, most men diagnosed with it do not die from it, ACS said.
“In fact, there are more than 3.3 million men in the United States alive today who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point,” ACS added.
The good news is that between 1993 and 2013, probably due to early detection and advances in treatment, the death rate from prostate cancer fell by about half.
In recent years, the death rate has stabilized, which, according to the ACS, is likely due to the increase in cancers that are only discovered at an advanced stage.
How to detect prostate cancer early
As with many cancers, early detection is essential. Prostate cancer can be detected with a blood test called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The aim of screening is to detect cancer before symptoms appear and it can be done as part of medical check-ups.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which helps set standards for screening, believes that the decision to screen people between the ages of 55 and 69 for prostate cancer should be a decision made by the individual and their doctor based on personal risk.
In particular, the USPSTF does not recommend screening for people over 70 years of age.
What happens next after a high PSA level is detected?
If a high PSA level is detected, a doctor may order a biopsy after ruling out other possible causes. However, there is a risk of complications such as infection or bleeding.
When deciding when to perform a prostate cancer screening, doctors also consider the person’s risk of developing prostate cancer themselves. Some groups, including African Americans, are at higher risk.
According to ACS data, black men and women die more frequently from prostate, uterine and breast cancer than other races.
Although screening is designed to detect and treat aggressive prostate cancer, not all prostate cancer detected requires treatment, especially as people get older. In some cases, doctors closely monitor patients with lower-grade prostate cancer, which is called active surveillance.
However, the screening recommendations do not apply if a patient experiences symptoms such as difficulty urinating or blood in the urine. In these cases, people should speak to their doctor immediately.
The USPSTF is currently reviewing the prostate cancer screening guidelines. Recommendations may change in the coming years.
Dr. Camry Kelly, DO, a member of the ABC Medical News Unit and chief physician in the Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency Program in Rochester, Minnesota, and Dr. Ashley Yoo, MD, a member of the ABC Medical News Unit and an internal medicine resident at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC, contributed to this report.
