Empowering Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer Through SurvivorNet’s Impactful Film Series
- SurvivorNet’s “Men Beating the Odds” film series is gaining national momentum, highlighted by Al Roker’s “Today Show” segment, where he discussed overcoming stigma, survivorship, and his roundtable with advanced prostate cancer survivors who are pushing for better treatment choices after diagnosis.
- Media outlets across the nation—including NBC’s “Today Show”, Fox2 St. Louis, and CBS Philadelphia—are all shining a light on the series, amplifying SurvivorNet’s reach to roughly five million people each month and elevating real stories of men overcoming obstacles to find hope and navigating diagnosis
- Hosted by NFL legend Emmitt Smith, “Men Beating The Odds” features NBA Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning, as well as everyday heroes such as veterans, business owners, and a NASA doctor. The series is particulary focused on the courage and transformation of men with advanced or metastatic prostate cancer.
- For more on other inspiring survivors, check out “Men Beating The Odds” here.
“I was really thrilled to join a new docuseries—it’s called ‘Men Beating the Odds’—and there’s still stigma around the disease,” Roker said during the segment.
Read More“The four of us came together to talk about the issues surrounding the disease. You’re so used to being the dad, and you’re not familiar with your kids seeing you vulnerable,” Roker said, touching on one of the challenges men face after a diagnosis.
Another standout film in the series, “From a Whisper to a Roar,” centers on St. Louis native Mellve Shahid. Initially diagnosed with stage 2 prostate cancer in 2007, before it later advanced to become metastatic prostate cancer, Shahid transformed his experience into a mission to support other men facing the disease.
WATCH: KTVI Fox St. Louis
“Too many men are dying from a preventable disease, and too many men are being diagnosed without any support. In the St. Louis community, [The] Empowerment Network (TEN) is hands down without a doubt the St. Louis gift,” Shahid told SurvivorNet.
His story was recently covered by the St. Louis Fox affiliate, which focused on both his advocacy and the broader impact of the Men Beating the Odds series, which was also highlighted in Medical Marketing and Media (MMM), a leading medical marketing brand.
“You’ve got an NFL legend, an NBA legend—come on. It doesn’t get better than that,” Shahid told Fox2Now.
WATCH: KYW CBS Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, the CBS affiliate further amplified the message, interviewing SurvivorNet CEO Steve Alperin alongside a local prostate cancer oncologist and survivor. The conversation reinforced the urgency of accessible, trustworthy information for families navigating a diagnosis.
“We exist for a problem that I had in my family, that millions of families have—that it’s too hard to figure out what to do when you get sick,” Alperin told CBS Philadelphia.
SurvivorNet offers a comprehensive range of prostate cancer resources, including localized guidance for patients and clinicians across the U.S., including Miami, Houston, and Philadelphia. The resources feature insights from leading specialists, such as Dr. Leonard Gomella, Chair of Urology at Thomas Jefferson University’s Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. SurvivorNet has also collaborated with other top experts in the region, including Dr. Vivek Narayan, medical oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Randall Lee, urologist at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
SurvivorNet’s “Men Beating the Odds” is an uplifting 12-part documentary series highlighting real-life journeys of men thriving with advanced prostate cancer, created with the intention of encouraging men to open up about health concerns, especially with more sensitive topics: their prostate and sexual health.
More On Men Beating The Odds
- The Unsung Heroes Behind NASA’s Success — Persevering Through Challenges With Dr. Jeff Jones
- Hometown Hero Honored By The Storied St. Louis Cardinals For Prostate Cancer Awareness Work
- Finding Passion & Purpose After Advanced Prostate Cancer: Basketball Hall of Fame Legend Alonzo Mourning Turns His ‘Mess’ Into His ‘Message’
- NBA Legend Alonzo Mourning On How Talking To Friends About Health Saved His Life & Why It’s Important For Black Men To Open Up These Dialogues
Al Roker’s Journey From Prostate Cancer Patient to Advocate
Roker recently shared on social media his feelings about the fifth anniversary of his prostate cancer surgery. After thanking his care team and noting he was still “all good,” he used the moment to encourage other men to get their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels checked with their doctors, with an added shout-out to men of color who, as noted above, tend to be at higher risk of getting prostate cancer.
Roker, who is married to fellow news anchor Deborah Roberts, 65, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in 2020.
“I couldn’t have gotten through this without Debra and my kids,” Roker said in the film.
He underwent a radical prostatectomy, which removes the entire prostate, along with some tissue around it, including the seminal vesicles that release fluid into the semen. Side effects may follow this procedure, which may include erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.
RELATED: ‘Today Show’ Icon Al Roker Reaches 5-Year Cancer Milestone, Sends a Reminder to Men: ‘Get Checked.’
Roker is currently in remission. According to the National Cancer Institute, remission means cancer signs and symptoms are reduced or gone; complete remission lasting 5+ years may be considered a cure, but lingering cells can cause recurrence, so doctors say there’s no evidence of disease rather than a guaranteed cure.
“There really was no pain,” Roker previously told SurvivorNet about how he felt post-operation.
“The biggest issue, obviously, is sexual function, and there’s treatment for that. I’m happy to say everything’s working fine.”
RELATED: Sexual Function Recovery After Prostate Cancer Surgery
“To be honest, the hardest part, really, there’s a little incontinence (loss of bladder control) to begin with that eventually goes away to me,” he said.
“The hardest part was that initial week after surgery, where you’re wearing a catheter (a soft tube that drains urine from the bladder). But even that was not onerous; it’s just a little inconvenient, but you know that it’s temporary.”
More on This Powerful Film Series
Hosted by NFL legend Emmitt Smith — who was inspired to speak out after his own father’s battle with prostate cancer — “Men Beating The Odds” is an uplifting series that commemorates the strength and resilience of men confronted with this disease.
From NBA Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning to everyday heroes such as veterans, business owners, and a NASA doctor, the series highlights powerful stories of courage and transformation and underscores the need for greater awareness of the disease in underserved communities. Prostate cancer impacts 1 in 8 men in the U.S., and these stories highlight the power of community and shared strength.
“This is about honoring strength and encouraging men to speak up,” says Emmitt Smith.
“These stories show that even after a diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer, life can be full of purpose, power, and new possibilities.”
Content independently created by SurvivorNet with support from Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp.
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