RELATED: Duran Duran Celebrates 40-Year Milestone While Guitarist Andy Taylor Continues Stage 4 Cancer Battle

The band’s statement, published on November 12, read, “Roger has been at the heart of Duran Duran’s sound across two remarkable chapters. He played on the band’s era-defining early records, then returned for the celebrated reunion of the original line-up in 2001, writing and playing on six additional chart-topping albums and performing with them to millions of fans around the world.

“After careful consideration and medical advice, he has decided that protecting his hearing and long-term health must now come first.”

In a statement from his home in the U.S., Roger called it “one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” saying drumming with the band had been “the joy of my life.” But his tinnitus “has been getting steadily worse,” he said, “and I’ve reached the point where I must now listen to my body and my doctors.”

Tinnitus is the perception of sound, often ringing, buzzing or roaring, that has no outside source, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), which estimates that 10 to 25% of adults have it. There is no cure, though the condition can worsen over time and has been linked to factors including exposure to loud noise, such as at concerts. However, it’s unclear what led to Roger’s tinnitus.

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His statement continued, “Figuring out the timing of all of this has not been easy, but I’m going out on a real high. We’ve just returned from a hugely successful UK and European tour, which followed our second headline show at BST Hyde Park, our induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a return to the studio with Nile Rodgers.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better final chapter, with so many special moments that I’ll treasure forever. I move on with enormous pride, and with nothing but love for Simon, Nick and John.”

The remaining three members, Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor, called their drummer “our brother” and said his playing “helped define the sound of Duran Duran from the very beginning.”

Backing Roger’s decision, they said he “will always be part of this family” and confirmed the band will carry on, though they did not say whether a new drummer will join.

Roger’s departure comes as former guitarist Andy Taylor, who revealed in 2022 that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer four years earlier, continues to battle the disease.

Andy’s bandmates shared the news by reading his letter at their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, which he missed because of treatment. He left the band in 1986, rejoined from 2001 to 2006 and later played on its 2023 album “Danse Macabre.”

Nick Rhodes gave a hopeful update in a May interview with USA Today, which was later posted on the band’s website, saying that from the latest reports, Andy is “holding in there with new treatments,” adding, “It’s not gone away, but it’s being managed.”

Andy Taylor’s Prostate Cancer Battle

Andy Taylor was diagnosed in 2018 but kept the news private until 2022, when his illness kept him from joining his bandmates at their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction that November. Instead, they read from a letter he wrote disclosing his diagnosis.

“Just over 4-years ago I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer,” he wrote in the letter, which is also posted on the band’s website. “Although my current condition is not immediately life threatening there is no cure.”

He explained that “very sophisticated life extending treatment” had been working until “a week or so ago when I suffered a setback,” leaving him unable to make the trip.

A Groundbreaking New Treatment

Taylor ultimately found remarkable hope with an FDA-approved radiopharmaceutical drug called Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan). Pluvicto may be helpful for anyone with prostate cancer that has spread beyond the prostate and has not responded to hormone therapy.

“Unlike chemotherapy, the quality of life you get from this is staggering. Like, wow. It can add three to five years to your life — and I’m going for the five because they think I can make that. I am still terminal because there’s nothing curative for [stage 4 prostate cancer]. But I’ve beat the odds with this treatment,” Taylor said.

Plutvicto is an intravenous radioligand therapy that targets cancer cells precisely in the body. The medication combines diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, which can identify the presence of a target (PSMA) on a patient’s cancer cells and then treat it directly with minimal impact on normal tissues.

“The approval of lutetium is a major step in the development of personalized treatment for advanced prostate cancer,” Dr. David Penson, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told SurvivorNet.

Like most treatments, Plutvicto can cause side effects. The most common adverse reactions may include:

• Fatigue
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Anemia
• Decreased appetite
• Constipation

When Caught Early, Prostate Cancer Is Very Treatable

Prostate cancer is very treatable when caught early — and thanks to incredible advances in treatment options, even prostate cancer that is caught in advanced stages can often be managed. A long-standing prostate screening tool is the protein-specific antigen (PSA) test. This test screens for prostate cancer by looking for larger amounts of prostate-specific antigen in the blood. An elevated PSA test does not always mean prostate cancer, but it could indicate a man’s cancer risk is higher or lower.

WATCH: Hormone Therapy for Advanced Prostate Cancer: Blocking Testosterone To Fight Cancer

“Population-based prostate cancer screening has historically relied on PSA levels, which have led to the diagnosis of many prostate cancers that are not a threat to the patient’s life,” a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine said.

In recent years, other test methods, including prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scans and MRI imaging, have gained increasing support from cancer experts. PSMA PET-CT scans are a relatively new imaging technique that allows physicians to visualize prostate cancer cell clusters anywhere within the body. PSMA PET-CT is helpful for people with prostate cancer where there’s a high risk of the disease spreading outside the prostate gland or those who have recurrent cancers.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a magnetic field, radiofrequency pulses, and computer technology to generate highly accurate body images.

What Factors Go Into Treatment Choices?

For many patients, the differences between treatment options — such as surgery, radiation, or hormone therapy — can be subtle. But those nuances matter, especially when side effects impact daily life.

Dr. James Ryan Mark, a urologic oncologist at Fox Chase, urges patients to weigh the benefits and trade-offs of each treatment option carefully.

“In certain cases, the differences in treatment options can be relatively minor,” Dr. Mark explains.

WATCH: Balancing Treatment and Quality of Life: What Men Should Know About Prostate Cancer Care

One common combination for aggressive prostate cancer is radiation therapy paired with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), also called hormone therapy, which suppresses testosterone to slow cancer growth. While this approach can significantly improve recurrence rates and survival, it’s not without cost — especially for older patients.

“Adding those treatments to radiation has a big improvement on the recurrence rate of survival,” Dr. Mark says. “But not all men sustain that big of an improvement, and particularly if you’re older, taking out your testosterone can really affect your muscle strength and vitality.”

For some, preserving strength and energy may outweigh a modest increase in cancer control.

“As patients are getting elderly, to some, that is more important than maybe a 10% [increase] in their case of prostate cancer control,” he adds.

Dr. Mark also cautions against rigid treatment protocols that don’t account for individual needs. He encourages patients to ask their care team questions and explore different types of treatments, specifically inquiring about possible treatment outcomes and the side effects they bring.

“Sometimes, it almost seems dogmatic in the way the treatments are delivered,” he says. “It’s always good to ask what the benefit of each aspect of the treatment is and what can be given in a different way.”

Dr. Vivek Narayan, a medical oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania, is part of a growing movement in oncology that embraces combination therapy as the backbone of metastatic prostate cancer treatment. This approach pairs traditional hormone therapy (also called androgen deprivation therapy or ADT) with FDA-approved oral agents like abiraterone, enzalutamide, apalutamide, and darolutamide — each designed to disrupt the testosterone-driven growth of cancer cells further.

WATCH: A Message Of Hope For Men Fighting Advanced Prostate Cancer

These therapies not only slow disease progression but also offer patients a chance at living longer, fuller lives — even with an advanced diagnosis.

Dr. Narayan highlights the progress in advanced prostate cancer care, noting that the disease is increasingly manageable and patients now have greater potential for improved quality of life. Still, patients must be carefully monitored.

“Even with metastatic prostate cancer, it’s not always the cancer that causes the biggest problems. We’ve got to keep an eye on overall health, because that matters just as much.” Dr. Narayan notes.

This shift in perspective is critical — not just for patients, but for caregivers and clinicians alike. It reframes the diagnosis from a terminal sentence to a chronic condition that can be managed with precision and care.

The outlook for prostate cancer care is promising, driven by breakthroughs in treatment and the rise of personalized medicine. Dr. Narayan’s work at Penn Medicine, among other cancer research centers across the country, continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, offering patients not just treatment but a renewed sense of continued hope.

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 higher levels of prostate-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.

As of November 12, 2026, the American Cancer Society has updated its prostate cancer screening guideline. It now advises that men at average risk get a PSA blood test every two years from ages 50 through 69. Black men are advised to start at 45 and be tested every year through 69. Men whose father, brother or son has had prostate cancer are also advised to begin at 45, with yearly screening if that relative was diagnosed before 65 or if more than one close relative has had the disease.

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

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?

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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