Grammy-Winning Musician Nile Rodgers, 72, Who Wrote David Bowie’s ‘Let’s Dance,’ Is a 2-Time Cancer Survivor. One of His Cancers Was Discovered While Being Treated For E. Coli
Grammy-Winning Musician Nile Rodgers, 72, Who Wrote David Bowie’s ‘Let’s Dance,’ Is a 2-Time Cancer Survivor. One of His Cancers Was Discovered While Being Treated For E. Coli
Music legend Nile Rodgers, 72, has survived both prostate and kidney cancer—transforming personal battles into public advocacy. After an aggressive prostate cancer diagnosis in 2010, Rodgers underwent treatment. However, remission didn’t last, as doctors discovered he had kidney cancer while being treated for E. Coli, a bacterial infection he attributes to tainted food.
Now cancer-free, Rodgers continues to perform and raise awareness, using his platform to spotlight survivorship
In the early stages, kidney cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms. However, what a patient experiences can differ widely, but blood in the urine, Lower back pain on one side, and fatigue are known symptoms.
Prostate cancer screening may often involve a digital rectal exam and prostate-specific antigen test. This test measures the level of PSA in the blood, and higher levels can indicate cancer. Most cancer diagnoses are caught with screening.
Men at average risk are recommended to begin screening between 50 and 55. Men with a family history of prostate cancer should consider screening at 40.
Surgery is not needed for all men diagnosed with prostate cancer. In some cases, active surveillance is a preferred treatment option for older men or those with a low risk of the disease spreading.
At 72, Grammy-winning musician Nile Rodgers continues to electrify crowds, and the legendary guitarist recently did just that at a cancer awareness benefit, channeling decades of musical brilliance into a cause he knows intimately: surviving cancer. Twice.
“Double cancer survivor and legend Nile Rodgers…raising funding and awareness,” fellow survivor and actor Colin McFarlane shared in a heartfelt Instagram post.
Rodgers helped define the disco-funk sound that permeated New York City in the 1970s and ’80s, before crossing borders. His collaborations with icons like David Bowie, “Let’s Dance,” Madonna, “Like a Virgin,” and Daft Punk, “Get Lucky.” But behind the scenes, his rhythm was interrupted by a life-altering diagnosis.
In 2010, Rodgers was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer.
“When my doctor told me that I had an aggressive form of prostate cancer, everything in my happy music life imploded,” Rodgers said in a public service announcement promoting prostate cancer U.K.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JUNE 13: Nile Rodgers of the band Chic performs at Bridgestone Arena on June 13, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
“Once I understood the options available, I was able to make a choice about treatment that was right for me,” the famed guitarist continued.
His journey, chronicled in a personal blog, spanned three years of treatment and recovery. But in 2017, a hospital visit for E. coli— a bacterial infection caused by what he believed was tainted food—led to another devastating discovery: a growth on his kidney, later confirmed as kidney cancer.
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 15: Singer Lady Gaga (C), accompanied by musician/producer Nile Rodgers (L), performs a tribute to the late David Bowie onstage during The 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 15, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
“After the last seven years of amazing life, I would have never believed that my body would be invaded by another cancer,” Rodgers wrote. “CANCER REALLY? I’m done.”
Despite the setbacks, Rodgers returned to the stage with renewed purpose. His music now carries an added layer of advocacy—raising awareness, funding, and hope for others facing similar battles.
In the early stages, kidney cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms. However, what a patient experiences can differ widely depending on the tumor’s type, size, and location. Below are some potential symptoms and side effects that individuals with kidney cancer might encounter:
Blood in the urine
Lower back pain on one side
Tiredness and fatigue
Weight loss
Reduced appetite
Lumps or growths on the lower back or the side
High temperature and fever that doesn’t seem to go away
Anemia: low counts of red blood cells
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 14: Nile Rodgers (2nd R) and CHIC attend the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Hot Pink Party at The Glasshouse on May 14, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for BCRF)
Surgery is often the primary approach for treating kidney tumors, with the goal of fully removing the cancer. However, this option is typically considered when the tumor is still localized—meaning it’s a manageable size and hasn’t spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. There are several types of surgical procedures used to treat kidney cancer, including:
Radical nephrectomy
Partial nephrectomy
Cytoreductive nephrectomy
Laparoscopic and robotic surgery
Mastectomy
Treatment Options for Kidney Cancer: What You Should Know
Kidney cancer can be treated through a range of approaches—each designed to target cancer cells in different ways. Your care team will help determine the best path forward based on your diagnosis, overall health, and personal preferences. Here’s a breakdown of key treatment options:
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): This minimally invasive procedure uses a needle inserted directly into the tumor. Electric currents and radiofrequency waves heat and destroy the cancerous tissue from within.
Cryoablation: In this technique, extremely cold probes are placed into the tumor to freeze and kill cancer cells. It’s often used for small tumors or patients who aren’t candidates for surgery.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses powerful medications to stop cancer cells from growing, dividing, or surviving. While kidney cancer is often resistant to traditional chemotherapy, certain drugs may be used in specific cases or in combination with other therapies.
Radiation Therapy: High-energy particles or waves are used to damage and destroy cancer cells. The two main types are: External Beam Radiation: Delivered from outside the body, targeting the tumor with precision. Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy): Places radioactive material directly inside or near the tumor.
Immunotherapy: This innovative approach activates your immune system to better detect and attack cancer cells. Treatments like immune checkpoint inhibitors help the body overcome cancer’s defenses and mount a stronger response.
Targeted Therapy: These drugs zero in on specific genes or proteins that fuel cancer growth. One notable example is belzutifan (Welireg), approved by the FDA in August 2021 for patients with Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-related kidney cancers. Belzutifan blocks a protein called HIF-2α, which normally supplies oxygen and nutrients to cancer cells—cutting off this pathway can shrink tumors significantly.
Combination Therapy: In many cases, doctors may recommend a blend of treatments—such as immunotherapy paired with targeted therapy—to increase effectiveness and tailor care to your unique needs.
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.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 12: Nile Rodgers speaks onstage during the 2025 Songwriters Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Marriott Marquis Times Square on June 12, 2025, in New York City. (Photo by Lawrence Busacca/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame)
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?
