Updated November 2nd, 2022

As Movember Kicks Off, We Remember Legendary Rocker Johnny Ramone, Who Died of Prostate Cancer

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Leaving an Epic Legacy

Punk rock legend Johnny Ramone died from a 5-year-battle with prostate cancer in 2004 at 55 years old.
The guitarist, along with the rest of The Ramones, birthed the New York punk movement, influencing other greats like Nirvana, The Clash, and Metallica and still remain one of the most influential bands of all time.
Treatment options for advanced cancers are typically different from early stage diseases. While treating prostate cancer, some patients will be put on hormone therapy. Chemotherapy may also be considered for metastatic disease.

Punk rock legend Johnny Ramone passed away in 2004 after a 5-year battle with prostate cancer. As November kicks off, and Movember a month dedicated to spreading awareness about men’s health issues gets underway, it’s the perfect time to spread awareness about the legendary rocker’s situation, and what men should know about prostate cancer risk.

The guitarist, along with the rest of The Ramones, birthed the New York punk movement, influencing other greats like Nirvana, The Clash, and Metallica, and still remain one of the most influential bands of all time. They will also forever be remembered as style icons with their shaggy, bowl-cut hair and leather jackets.

The Ramonesknown for hit tunes such as Blitzkrieg Bop, I Wanna Be Sedated, and Rock ‘n’ Roll High Schoolformed in Queens in 1974, with Johnny as a founding member, along with lead singer Joey Ramone, bassist Dee Dee Ramone and drummer Tommy Ramone. The band, who all went by stage names and were unrelated, eventually split in 1996, but by then they had changed the world and their punk rock duty was done.

For years now, men have marked Movember by growing out mustaches. The idea is to raise awareness of men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s suicide. The Movember Foundation also runs a charity with the tagline “Whatever you grow will save a bro.”

In remembering Johnny Ramone’s legacy, let’s also be aware of the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer.

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It was 1999 when Johnny Ramone, born John Cummings, was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Johnny fought for nearly five years, but then was hospitalized in June 2004 three months before his death at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center due to an infection related to his cancer. He tried many different chemotherapy treatments to fight off the cancer, but it ultimately spread throughout his body.

Johnny kept his diagnosis relatively private, but then he was unable to attend a tribute concert and cancer fundraiser on September 12, 2004 for The Ramones 30th anniversary. Three days later, he passed away.

Johnny is buried in the famous Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and every year, fans from around the country gather at his impressive gravesite statue to honor his legacy. His widow, Linda Ramone, speaks on behalf of her lost love and continues to throw benefits to support cancer in his name.

Treatment For Advanced Prostate Cancer

Advanced prostate cancer is when the disease has spread to other parts of the body, also known as metastatic. Treatment options for advanced cancers are typically different from early stage diseases.

While treating prostate cancer, some patients will be put on hormone therapy, but if a patient is not responding, your doctor will consider chemotherapy. Not only does chemotherapy show promise in successfully prolonging a patient's survival rate, but the medication can also relieve pain you may be experiencing during the process.

Why chemotherapy can be a good treatment option for advanced prostate cancer.

"One of the things about chemo that's really under appreciated, particularly for men, [when] cancer [has] spread to the bones, it's metastatic, they failed hormonal therapy, the cancer in the bones can cause a lot of pain, and so when they go on the chemotherapy, the pain gets better," Dr. Stephen Freedland, a urological surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told SurvivorNet.

"What we're finding now is if we give it earlier, much earlier, we can actually have very profound effects on extending life. Not just a couple of months but by a year and a half when done earlier."

Stanford Medicine's Dr. James Brooks, a urologic oncologist, said in an earlier interview that men should begin screening for prostate cancer at 55. "Current guidelines are to start screening at age 55 and continue screening through age 70," he says.

Dr. James Brooks explains the different risk factors involved in prostate cancer screening recommendations.

"The reason for that is prostate cancer diagnosed after age 70 has a reasonably low probability it's going to take your life because prostate cancer, even in its aggressive forms, when it's localized is a relatively slow-growing cancer," says Dr. Brooks. "Men who are at high risk because of family history should have PSA testing earlier," he adds.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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