‘It’s an Honor’: Prostate Cancer Survivor Elton John, 74, Featured in New ‘1971’ Documentary All About ‘Creative Bursts’

Elton wrote about the documentary on social media, saying, “1971 – The Year That Music Changed Everything is out now on Apple TV+. It's an honour to be included in such a fabulous group of musicians. I don't think we'll ever see a creative burst like that ever again.” The film includes footage of performers such as Aretha Franklin, George Harrison, Bob Marley, The Rolling Stones and Bill Withers.

 

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Elton’s Prostate Cancer Battle

Elton was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017 and had surgery to treat his disease. Common treatment options for prostate cancer include radiation, surgery, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Elton is a true powerhouse, and not even prostate cancer surgery slowed him down. Following surgery, he revealed that he even wore a diaper onstage during one of his concerts in Las Vegas following his surgery. (The singer hadn't yet regained control of his bladder.)

Related: Comedian Paul Mooney Died of a Heart Attack, But Did You Know He Performed Through a Battle with Prostate Cancer?

Dr. Stephen Freedland, a urologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, spoke about prostate cancer surgery in a previous interview. "It's typically done through a robotic technique today, at least in the United States," says Dr. Freedland. "A lot of patients are still getting open surgery. Depending on the surgeon, it may be two, three, four, five hours somewhere in that range, usually spend one night in the hospital."

An Overview of Prostate Cancer Surgery

Screening for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is typically detected via prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests. This screening test measures PSA in the blood, which may indicate the presence of prostate cancer. For men with an average risk of prostate cancer, it’s advised by the American Cancer Society (ACS) to begin screening at 50 for the disease; men with an elevated risk of developing prostate cancer should start screening at 45.

Related: 'TODAY' Anchor Al Roker's Crucial Reminder to Not Delay Screenings After Almost Canceling His; He Would Not Have Found His 'Aggressive' Prostate Cancer

Dr. James Brooks, a urologic oncologist at Stanford Medicine, says in an earlier interview that this is a slow-growing cancer. “Prostate cancer, even when aggressive, is typically slow-growing," he says. "So the possibility that it could become fatal past the age of 70 is quite low. Still, whether you continue to screen past age 70 is completely up to you and your doctor. In prostate cancer, there are sometimes differing viewpoints and this is one of those times."

"However, if you are at high-risk (meaning you have a family history or are African-American) many doctors say you should have an initial screening well before 50some recommend starting at age 40because the risk is about two to three times higher than average," says Dr. Brooks.

The PSA Blood Test and a Rectal Exam are Vital for Prostate Cancer Screening

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