Robert De Niro Appears to Have Acted Right Through His Prostate Cancer, 17 Years Ago, & Won’t Stop Anytime Soon: “I’ll Go as Long as I Can”

Related: Did You Know Robert De Niro is 15 Years Cancer-Free? Now He's Starring in "The Irishman" & Nominated For 2 Emmys

This is clearly one of the actor’s more comedic roles, but if we know anything about De Niro, he can play any character. Over the years he’s participated in dozens of movies and TV shows throughout his career  even during his battle with prostate cancer. De Niro was diagnosed with the disease in 2003, but his filmography never took a break. In 2002, he appeared in 5 movies including Showtime, City by the Sea, and About a Boy. De Niro’s resilience is truly inspiring, and his passion for acting shines through. While promoting his upcoming movie the actor revealed that he’s never lost his desire to hit the big screen, and doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon.

"I always say, the next thing is grandfathers, then great-grandfathers, then great-great-great grandfathers, so who knows," De Niro tells Yahoo Entertainment about his future roles. "I'll go as long as I can."

Robert De Niro’s Cancer Journey

De Niro was diagnosed with prostate cancer at 60-years-old. According to the actor’s publicist, the cancer was caught during a routine PSA screening test (blood test for prostate cancer). De Niro immediately went through treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Since the disease was caught during a routine check-up, it was in the earlier stages and De Niro was able to make a full recovery. Plus, the actor’s publicist claims De Niro’s healthy lifestyle contributed to his speedy recover.

Related: The Cancer Survivors Club Up For an Emmy: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Wanda Sykes, & Christina Applegate

Initially the actor kept his battle with cancer out of the public eye, but after being in remission for a few years, he decided to go public as a way to urge men to start screening. The PSA screening test, also known as the PSA blood test, can be a valuable resource in catching prostate early. Current guidelines suggest men start screening for the disease starting at 55-years-old, and continue until they’re 70.

Dr. James Brooks explains why the PSA screening test is important to detect prostate cancer

Find Moments of Joy During Treatment

During cancer treatment, it’s important to still do the things you love. It can be difficult to focus on anything except the diagnosis, but experts suggest people still find time to take moments throughout the day and do activities that make them happy. Studies have shown that patients who are able to remain positive have a better overall quality of life, which is linked to successful treatment outcomes.

“We know from good studies, that emotional health [and] quality of life is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better survival, better outcomes,” Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, tells SurvivorNet. “So definitely, working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment, your emotional well-being, definitely working on those things and making them better are important and can impact your survival. If that’s related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities.”

Related: Stay Positive, It Matters

These activities can be a variety of things. If you’re Robert De Niro, maybe it means taking a new acting gig. For others, consider taking a stroll in the park, a picnic with loved ones, or perhaps picking up a new hobby.

Dr. Dana Chase explains why cancer patients still need to find moments of joy during treatment

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