Travel Guru Rick Steves, 69, Says He’s ‘Cancer-Free’ After Prostate Cancer Surgery: ‘For Now, I’ve Broken Through The Storm’

He explained, “Update on my Medical Travels: I’m Cancer Free! PSA 55 to PSA 0.09 to PSA <0.03…Yes! If you know prostate cancer, you know the happy story of those numbers — and the relief of hearing my surgeon say, ‘You can now consider yourself cancer-free.'”

After describing his life as of recent as “a whirlwind,” with a New York Times bestselling book and new grandson, he wrote, “I’ve been on a deeply personal journey since last July, when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I promised I’d keep my traveling family posted — and I’m happy to now report that I’ve weathered the storm.

“As a traveler, I’ve embraced my season of cancer as a journey: Setting off into a mysterious world not of my choosing with no prior experience or language skills. Engulfed in a furious storm, relying on the good ship SS Medical Industry and the steady guidance of Captain Lin (my surgeon), my sails were filled by the prayers and loving wishes of friends, family, and the caring public. (It’s amazing how prayers and good thoughts can become tangible when we need them to power us through the waves.)”

He continued, “For now, I’ve broken through the storm, and it’s smooth sailing ahead. But more storms are inevitable, and I’d be wise to keep in touch with the captain and take care of the ship.”

As for his message to others, he said, “The message is important: I learned the hard way (almost the very hard way) about the importance of men being tuned into their bodies — especially older men like me, with a history of cancer in the family. I didn’t notice any symptoms and assumed my frequent trips to the WC [bathroom] were simply a consequence of my healthy determination to ‘stay hydrated.’

“Only after my diagnosis did I learn that my uncle and his dad both had prostate cancer at my age. It was totally on me… and I was too busy simply living to get tested. Thankfully, I got a new primary care doctor who wanted to kick off our relationship with a blood test. And two days later, our shared mission shifted radically from wellness to survival. After carefully considering all the options, I decided to get a radical prostatectomy — which meant my entire prostate would be removed.”

Now, as Steves nears his 70th birthday, which will take place on May 10, he feels “energized” by his renewed health and back to being busy, despite experiencing some post-surgery complications, like incontinence and sexual disfunction.

He continued, “My doctor is giving me an A+ for being proactive: colonoscopy (check!), a visit to the dermatologist for skin cancer tests (check!), physical therapy for post-surgery wellness (check!), massaging away scars from the robotic surgery, which left big dimples on my belly (check!), Kegels (check!), stretching regularly (check!), and lots of walking (check!). (I’m training for a week of hiking in Italy’s Dolomites this summer.) …

“Going forward, I’ll get my PSA tested twice a year and then annually. Statistics and my surgeon tell me I should be just fine. …I’m looking forward to many more years of happy travels, exciting collaborations, and beautiful friendships. Thank you for your love and support as I weathered this storm. I’m so happy that, together, we get to keep on travelin’!”

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Speaking to Washington Post Travel, following his “cancer-free” announcement, Steves said, “Thank God, my blood tests were wonderful, my prostatectomy surgery, I’m down one organ right now, was very successful.

“So I’m essentially cancer-free and I’m so thankful for that in many, many ways. And now, I’ve sort of got my go-ahead to carry on and Europe is still my beat.”

He added, “I’ve got TV shows to make, tours to lead, and guidebooks to update. So I’m heading over to Istanbul and Rome to make TV shows in a couple months, and I’ll be going to Barcelona, Prague, and London to do some research.

“And I’ll be meeting up with my girlfriend in northern Italy to hike around the Dolomites on a wonderful, venerable long-distance trail.”

Rick Steves’ Prostate Cancer Battle

Rick Steves gave fans a health update on Oct. 8, writing on social media, “I’m happy to say that I’m home now after successful surgery and a night in the hospital. (Packing light for my homecoming, I left my prostate there.) Since I was first diagnosed, I’ve thought of cancer as the latest adventure in a lifetime of travels — and like always, I’m excited to share a trip report with you.

“My journey began with a blood draw to screen for prostate cancer. I was told that, at my age, a PSA score of 4 or greater would be considered ‘abnormal.’ So, when I got the shocking news that I had a PSA score of 55, it was like I’d been thrown into a new land fraught with mystery and uncertainty.”

Thanks for all the support since I first told you about my prostate cancer diagnosis. I promised you an update when I shared this news back in August — and I’m happy to say that I’m home now after successful surgery and a night in the hospital. (Packing light for my homecoming, I… pic.twitter.com/0HlyCRHT8B

— Rick Steves (@RickSteves) October 9, 2024

He continued, “In my case, I had options (basically non-surgical treatments or just cut it out). Caring people with strong opinions and lessons from experience weighed in as if in a debate tournament, competing in the interest of my health. Psychologically, I was inclined to embrace the ‘ectomy’ route — cut it out.

“And in my case (where the cancer is, how it’s acting, and my willingness to deal with — or live with — the side effects), it seemed surgery was my best option.”

Steves underwent something called a robotic radical prostatectomy, later adding, “Thankfully, my doctor has a good report: Surgery went well, there was no sign of any spread, and the cancer seems to have been embedded deep in my prostate, which is now at the lab.”

Now, months later, he’s cancer-free and we’re delighted to see him thriving after battling a disease.

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.

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.

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.

RELATED: Baltimore Orioles Star and Cancer Survivor Trey Mancini Announces His Engagement to NBC Sports Reporter Sara Perlman; Enjoying Life’s Milestones after Cancer

“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.”

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Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

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