Al Roker Sends Words of Encouragement
- Al Roker, 67, sent his words of encouragement to the Big Slick event for their annual cancer fundraiser in Kansas City.
- In November 2020, Roker announced on-air that he had been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.
- Roker has publicly stressed the importance of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests for men, which screen for prostate cancer. PSA tests look for PSA in the bloodstream, which could indicate the presence of prostate cancer.
Read MoreLaying here recuperating from the best weekend EVER at the @BigSlickKC! And $3.5 million for @ChildrensMercy … what?!! â¤ï¸â¤ï¸â¤ï¸ So honored to be a part of this weekend! pic.twitter.com/aVjsvV9BFu
— Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) June 26, 2022
Al Roker's Cancer Battle
In November 2020, Roker announced on-air that he had been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He continued to be public about his battle with prostate cancer, and transparent around his treatment. Roker opted for surgery to treat his prostate cancer.
Roker recalls how a routine exam revealed his prostate cancer. Thinking everything would be okay, he told his wife she didn't need to accompany him to his appointment. "It was a scheduled 'let's go over the results of your biopsy' [type of thing]," says Roker. "The doctor closed the door and told Al, 'I like to give these results in person,'" he recalls in an earlier interview.
Roker remembers how he thought for a moment: "Is there any way I could do this without telling [my wife] Deborah? Because she'll be furious she wasn't here." Roker says Deborah's journalistic skills went into "over-drive" after his diagnosis.
Screening for Prostate Cancer
Roker has publicly stressed the importance of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests for men, which screen for prostate cancer. PSA tests look for PSA in the bloodstream, which could indicate the presence of prostate cancer.
If you have a family history of prostate cancer or other cancers in your family, you should begin screening for prostate cancer earlier than the average person. The current recommendation is to begin screening at age 50 if you have an average risk of prostate cancer.
Those who are at a high risk of developing prostate cancer should start screening at age 40 or 45, depending upon your specific circumstances. Speak with your doctor about what's best for you, and advocate for your health lead each doctor's appointment with a plan.
When Should I Get Tested for Prostate Cancer?
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