Understanding Prostate Cancer
- Major League Baseball icon Wade Boggs has beat prostate cancer just five months after his diagnosis. The 66-year-old dad of two—who spent most of his time in the MLB with the Boston Red Sox, but also played for the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays—shared the news on February 17th, with a video clip of him ringing the bell to celebrate.
- Early detection of prostate is important as it can help reduce the risk of cancer spreading to other organs. Screening for prostate cancer generally involves a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test and a digital rectal exam to feel the prostate gland. The prostate-specific antigen is a protein secreted by the prostate gland, large amounts of which can indicate prostate cancer.
- Though the PSA test is not always accurate and an elevated PSA test does not always mean you have prostate cancer, our experts maintain that these tests are helpful. Make sure to discuss your options with your doctors and decide what screening should look like for you.
- There are many different treatment options for both early and later-stage prostate cancer including active surveillance, watchful waiting, surgery, radiation, cryotherapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. The disease is one where doctors may have differing opinions on the best treatment path to take.
- Reaching milestones during or after a cancer battle is huge. These events – like beating cancer, finishing chemotherapy treatment, or a birthday, may mean even more than they did previously, so it’s important to take them all in and celebrate all that you’ve overcome.
The 66-year-old dad of two—who spent most of his time in the MLB with the Boston Red Sox, but also played for the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays—shared the news that he beat cancer on February 7, writing on X, formerly Twitter, “An extremely emotional day I can’t thank my doctor’s Dr. Engleman and Dr. Heidenberg enough also to everyone for your thoughts and prayers.
Read MoreHe also shared a photo of him standing alongside one of his doctors.
Praise the Lord ? pic.twitter.com/u9eHPoye94
— Wade Boggs (@ChickenMan3010) February 17, 2025
Boggs’ announcement comes just months after his diagnosis, which he also revealed on X, alongside a photo of a patient guide booklet for prostate cancer.
“I’ve never been a goal oriented person but with the strength and support of my family and my faith in God I’m going to ring that damn bell #positiveattitude,” he said in his post, uploaded on Sept. 7, 2024.
He finished up his treatment on November 13, 2024, which he also celebrated with a post on X.
“Praise God! Had my last treatment this morning now it’s in the hands of God,” he wrote.
“Can’t thank my family, friends and my fans for your continued support throughout this difficult time. Also my wonderful team at Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute.”
Bogg’s good news has prompted fans to praise him with support, with one fan commenting alongside the video of him ringing the bell, “GOD IS SO GOOD Congratulations and thank you for all the GREAT memories on the field at Yankee Stadium.”
Another fan wrote, “All that chicken was good for you,” while a third said, “Yesssss! Congrats! Keep that fighting spirit!”
“Legendary, congrats brother. I’m sure it’s been a journey physically and emotionally that you wouldn’t wish on anyone. Beyond happy for you and your family. The [Greatest Of All Time],” a fourth fan said.
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Ron Davis also commented, “Love it! Congrats! What a milestone!”
The great Dr. Engleman ? pic.twitter.com/qtBFCQkrd0
— Wade Boggs (@ChickenMan3010) February 17, 2025
Boggs is known for playing on the Boston Red Sox for 11 seasons, between 1982 and 1999, for the New York Yankees between 1993 and 1997, and for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 1998 to 1999.
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays retired Boggs’ jersey number 12 in 2000 and his number 26 was retired by the Boston Red Sox in 2016. When his number was retired by the Red Sox, Boggs became one of the eight players to have their numbers retired at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusettes.
He said at the time, according to MLB.com, “I think I said it best out there that this was the last piece of my baseball puzzle.
“My journey has ended and I’ve come back home. This is where I started my career. And, today is the end. To have my number up there with all the greats to ever put on a Red Sox uniform, including Ted, he’s my idol growing up. I wore 9 in honor of Ted in Little League.”
When his number was retired, Boggs remembered his late parents, his mom who passed away in a car accident in 1986 and his dad, who passed away at a later date.
He said, “My father was very instrumental. He was basically my hitting coach. He was alive in 2005 when I went in the Hall of Fame, My mother was killed in ’86.
“They were smiling down at me today. They were sitting at the table with Ted, smiling down. They had the front-row seats and they got to see it. When the red covering came off of the number and I pointed up and blew my mom a kiss, I didn’t think I could hold it together then. But somehow I did. Very emotional.”
Boggs certainly has a lot to celebrate now that he’s beaten cancer, and it’s very admirable to see him able to push past adversity with optimism and strength.
In Bogg’s career, he won the World Series while playing for the New York Yankees. Additionally, he had a total of 3,010 career hits, 1,513 runs, 118 home runs.
He also has a career batting average of .328, ranking him top 40 of all-time in Major League Baseball.
Understanding Prostate Cancer
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, it’s important to remember that most types of prostate cancers are treatable. According to the National Cancer Institute, the five-year survival rate of prostate cancer in the U.S. is 97.1%. There is, however, a small number of men whose type of prostate cancer may become unresponsive to treatment, for example, when cancer cells develop a resistance hormone therapy, the treatment may no longer work.
Helping Patients Understand Prostate Cancer Treatment Options
- The PSA Blood Test and a Rectal Exam are Vital for Prostate Cancer Screening
- If You Have a Family History of Prostate Cancer, Get Screened Early
- Genetic Testing for Advanced Prostate Cancer Can Help Tailor Treatment
- Debating Over Treatment of Colorectal Cancer – The New Evidence About Watch and Wait
- Don’t Believe the Hype: Do Your Own Research on Prostate Cancer Treatment
- How to Treat Late-Stage Prostate Cancer: New Treatment Developments
- Metastatic Prostate Cancer Treatment is Improving
It’s unclear what stage prostate cancer Bogg’s battled but it’s important to understand that prostate cancer begins in the prostate the walnut-shaped gland located between the rectum and bladder that produces the fluid that nourishes sperm. Outside of skin cancers, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men with about one in eight men being diagnosed with this disease during his lifetime.
It’s important to remember a prostate cancer diagnosis is not always preceded by symptoms. And even when symptoms do occur, they can be inconsistent and hard to pinpoint.
“Prostate cancer is a very odd disease in that it doesn’t have a particular symptom,” Dr. Edwin Posadas, director of translational oncology and the medical director of the Urologic Oncology Program at Cedars-Sinai, told SurvivorNet.
After the Diagnosis: “What Did I Do Wrong?”
Still, it’s important to note changes in urinary function, like urinating more or less often or waking up at night to go more than usual, could be a sign of prostate cancer. So, even if you think there’s nothing to worry about, always talk to your doctor about changes to your health when they occur.
There are many different treatment options for both early and later-stage prostate cancer including active surveillance, watchful waiting, surgery, radiation, cryotherapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. The disease is one where doctors may have differing opinions on the best treatment path to take, so don’t hesitate to ask lots of questions and seek out multiple opinions.
Second (& Third) Opinions Matter When Deciding Between Surgery or Radiation
“I think it behooves the patient to have multiple discussions or second opinions, not only by the urologist who did the biopsy and diagnosed that man, but also with other surgeons and other radiation oncologist just to get a very circumspect view of what the treatment options are,” Dr. Jim Hu, a urologic oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, told SurvivorNet. “Oftentimes, I think patients need to understand that our health system is based a lot on fee-for-service medicine.
“And so therefore, a lot of physicians, I think, who are very well intentioned, will believe that their treatment is best for that particular man,” Dr. Hu added.
Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines
It’s unclear if the benefits of prostate cancer screening outweigh the risks for most men. Nevertheless, screening can be life-saving, and it’s important to discuss the pros and cons of screening and your risk factors for the disease with your doctor.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends “men have a chance to make an informed decision with their health care provider about whether to be screened for prostate cancer” after “getting information about the uncertainties, risks, and potential benefits of prostate cancer screening.”
The ACS says the discussion about prostate cancer screening should take place at:
- Age 50 for men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to live at least 10 more years.
- Age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes African Americans and men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).
- Age 40 for men at even higher risk (those with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age).
When Should I Get Tested for Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer screening methods look for possible signs of the disease, but they can’t determine for sure if you have cancer. A prostate biopsy is the only way to confirm if the patient has prostate cancer.
Screening generally involves a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test and a digital rectal exam to feel the prostate gland. The prostate-specific antigen is a protein secreted by the prostate gland, large amounts of which can indicate prostate cancer.
It’s slightly uncomfortable but painless, and takes less than 30 seconds,” Dr. Posadas said of these methods. “The amount of information that is gained from that is tremendous, and it can be a life-and-death type decision that is made.”
Though the PSA test is not always accurate and an elevated PSA test does not always mean you have prostate cancer, our experts maintain that these tests are helpful. Make sure to discuss your options with your doctors and decide what screening should look like for you.
What Are Your Treatment Options?
After your care team has all of the information (PSA, prostate exam, and the results of any imaging scans), your doctor will use it to categorize your cancer into one of several groups, called risk groups.
These include:
- Low risk
- Intermediate risk
- High risk
There are several subgroups within these categories that your doctor may mention. Which risk group your cancer falls into will determine what treatment options may be best for you. Men with low-risk and very low-risk disease may be candidates for active surveillance, an approach that closely monitors the cancer for changes and helps men avoid potential complications from more aggressive treatment.
On the other hand, men with high-risk disease may be treated with radiation therapy and androgen deprivation therapy (hormonal therapy).
In addition to your risk group, your doctor will also consider other factors, including:
- Your age
- Your overall health
- Your life expectancy
- Your goals for treatment
A combination of all of this information will allow your treating team to discuss all of the options that are available for treating your specific cancer.
Common treatment options for men with prostate cancer include:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Active surveillance
- Combination radiation therapy with hormonal therapy
- Surgery followed by radiation therapy
The reality is that most treatments are effective at curing the cancer. However, they each have different side effects that your doctors should discuss with you.
The Challenge of Deciding When to Treat Prostate Cancer
We encourage and recommend that if you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, you get an opinion from a urologist (surgeon) and a radiation oncologist to hear all of your options before choosing a treatment. We also recommend you get a second opinion from another institution.
Given the many treatment choices, doctors at some centers may do things quite differently than others.
We believe it is important to understand all of your options and hearing from other doctors at different institutions is helpful. The good news is that we have a lot of great options to treat men with this cancer. It can sometimes be overwhelming to pick what is best for you.
Reaching Milestones as a Cancer Survivor
Reaching milestones during or after a cancer battle is huge. These events – like beating cancer, finishing chemotherapy treatment, or celebrating another birthday, may mean even more than they did previously, so it’s important to take them all in and celebrate all that you’ve overcome.
“I’m Able to Be Here For More Milestones” One Cancer Survivor’s Incredible Story
Chrissy Degennaro, a cancer warrior determined to keep enjoying these precious milestones, is a great example of this. She has been battling a rare blood cancer called multiple myeloma for 14 years, and was first diagnosed when she was just 36 years old with a 2-year-old son.
When she was diagnosed, she almost expected to not be able to see him enter kindergarten. But thanks to 27 rounds of chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants, a CAR-T cell trial and two CAR-T cell transplants over following 14 years, she’s able to keep making memories with her family.
“You know, I do live one day at a time,” Chrissy previously told SurvivorNet. “Now, maybe I can go a week, a month, but things are looking pretty good. I’m able to be here for more milestones for my son, for more holidays, more birthdays. I do feel like I have had another chance at life.”
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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