There’s one club that most men would never choose to join even if some of its members are rich and famous. Actors Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro, former President Joe Biden, billionaire Warren Buffett and weatherman Al Roker are part of that club, but they didn’t choose to be.
Can you guess the club?
Here are some other hints.
In all, about one in eight men will be forced to join this club during his lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Six out of ten will be older than 65 when they join with the average age being 67.
While some members are famous, the club crosses ages, races and socioeconomics.
Ready to guess? It’s men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
You should also know, there’s a growing problem of prostate cancer in younger men, including those under 40 and even as young as 17.
And unfortunately, younger men may be more likely to have aggressive forms of prostate cancer or be diagnosed with advanced stages, potentially leading to poorer outcomes. Having a family history of prostate cancer, especially in close relatives (father, brother, son), significantly increases the risk for younger men.
Certain inherited genetic mutations, like those in BRCA1 and BRCA2, can also elevate prostate cancer risk in younger men.
Stiller, who was 48 when diagnosed, opened up about his battle with the disease on the Today Show in 2016.
“But when you’re confronted with the question of, ‘Hey, do you want to live or do you want to make sure your sex life is the best it can be?’ I opted for wanting to get rid of the cancer and see what happens, and luckily everything is cool,” Stiller said.
Stiller even quipped with radio personality Howard Stern in 2016 about his sex life post treatment. “When the first erection happened post surgery, we all celebrated,” Stiller said.
As more famous men are diagnosed with the prostate, they are becoming more candid about the disease and treatment in an effort to break the stigma.
That’s because prostate cancer, the treatment and the side effects impact men at their core: Their masculinity. Treatment can affect their urinary and sexual health, which can be hard to discuss.
Yet as more men speak about their experiences – like when Al Roker spoke about President Biden’s diagnosis on the Today Show – perhaps it becomes more of a brotherhood than a secret club. And the platform can have a profound impact on men diagnosed with the disease.
”Mr. President. As I found out from my battle with prostate cancer, you are part of a group that no one wants to be part of, but knowing you, you will face this latest challenge with courage, humor and grace,” Roker said.
CyberKnife Therapy for Prostate Cancer
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, treatment depends on the type and stage of cancer, your age and your overall health.
Doctors use surgery, chemotherapy, other drug therapies and radiation to treat prostate cancer. Sometimes a combination of treatments is necessary. And while each treatment can be effective, the cure rate for prostate cancer using radiation is well-documented. There is also a proven safety track record.
There are different types of radiation for prostate cancer, but the experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami believe stereotactic body radiation therapy or SBRT – the type of radiation used by CyberKnife, has some distinct advantages.
- Treatments can be done in five radiation therapy sessions over 10 days compared to 42 over three months with other types of radiation treatments.
- It has none of the risks that come with surgery.
- It’s noninvasive.
- The CyberKnife radiation beams, which target and destroy the tumor, are so precise. That means there is less risk of side effects including impotence and incontinence.
Plus, CyberKnife has a 95% cure rate for prostate cancer when detected early.
At the CyberKnife Center of Miami, we have successfully treated hundreds of prostate cancer patients from across the country, even the world, and right here in South Florida with excellent results.
Call CyberKnife Miami at 305-279-2900 for a consultation, and to find out more about prostate cancer treatment with CyberKnife. Or go to our prostate cancer website.