What Type of Cancer Does Al Roker Have? Prostate Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment

What Type of Cancer Does Al Roker Have?

In November 2020, beloved TV personality Al Roker revealed that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 66-year-old NBC Today Show weather anchor shared the news with viewers to remind men, especially in the Black community, about the importance of getting screened.

About Al Rokers Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Al Roker announced that he has a common, slow-growing type of prostate cancer that was detected early. He was diagnosed following a routine physical when his doctor discovered he had an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test result.

This triggered Roker to get further tests, including an MRI and a biopsy, which confirmed his prostate cancer diagnosis. Fortunately doctors caught it at an early stage before the cancer had spread or become advanced.

Al Roker's Cancer Treatment Plan

After additional tests and consultations, Roker and his medical team decided to move forward with removing his prostate through surgery. His doctor believes the procedure will successfully eliminate the cancer.

Roker will undergo the minimally invasive robotic prostatectomy in the coming weeks once all preparations are complete. If needed, he may also require some radiation treatment or hormone therapy following surgery.

After his cancer treatment, Roker expects to quickly bounce back to his usual energetic self and return to the popular morning talk show. Co-anchors like Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, as well longtime viewers, look forward to having him back cancer-free.

What Type of Cancer Did Al Roker Have?

Al Roker was diagnosed specifically with prostate cancer. The prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland located only in men.

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer begins when abnormal prostate gland cells mutate and grow out of control, forming cancerous tumors. Tumor cells can invade and damage nearby healthy tissues over time, including nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and other parts of the body.

If prostate cancer advances, cancerous cells may metastasize or spread beyond the prostate into lymph nodes, bones, lungs, liver and other organs.

Types of Prostate Cancer

Many types of prostate cancer exist. Doctors characterize and treat each man's prostate cancer based on factors like:

• Stage or advancement: Early, intermediate or advanced cancer
• Grade: G1-G5 indicates how abnormal and aggressive cells appear
• PSA levels: Prostate-specific antigen blood marker levels
• Growth rate: Slow, moderate or rapid tumor growth

In Al Roker's case, he has an early-stage, slow-growing prostate cancer with no signs of metastasis. His doctors indicate it has been detected very early at a localized stage that is highly treatable.

Common Prostate Cancer Types

Some of the most common classifications of prostate cancer include:

• Localized prostate cancer: Early stage cancer confined to prostate gland
• Advanced prostate cancer: Cancer has spread beyond the prostate to other areas
• Recurrent prostate cancer: Cancer returns after initial rounds of treatment
• Castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC): Cancer progresses despite lowering testosterone hormone levels

Prostate Cancer Symptoms and Screening

One reason Al Roker spoke publicly about his prostate cancer diagnosis was to raise awareness about screening and symptoms.

Prostate cancer often develops slowly without signs in the early stages. Later on, possible prostate cancer symptoms can include:

• Needing to urinate frequently, especially at night
• Difficulty starting urination or weakened urine flow
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Discomfort or pain when urinating
• Difficulty achieving or sustaining erections (erectile dysfunction)
• Painful ejaculation
• Constant pain in lower back, pelvis or upper thighs

However, many symptoms also overlap with common, non-cancerous prostate conditions. That's why regular screening in men is vital for early diagnosis and successful treatment.

Who Should Get Screened for Prostate Cancer?

Major health organizations provide the following prostate cancer screening guidelines:

• All men over age 50: Begin discussing prostate cancer testing with your doctor.
• Higher-risk men by age 45: African-American men and those with close male relatives (father, uncle, brother) who had prostate cancer prior to age 65.
• Higher-risk men age 40-45: Talk to your doctor about baseline screening if you have multiple close blood relatives who had prostate cancer at an early age.

Testing may involve a prostate exam, PSA blood test and potentially other scans if abnormalities are found.

Al Roker Urges Black Men Get Screened

Al Roker used his platform to urge African-American men in particular - who face increased prostate cancer risk - to start conversations with doctors and get screened on schedule:

[Prostate cancer] is a little more aggressive in African Americans...But here's the key: You detect it early, treat it early, it's 99% treatable. You don't want to wait until it spreads...I don't want people thinking, 'Oh, poor Al,' you know, because I'm gonna be OK.

Prostate Cancer Facts and Statistics

Here are some key facts about prostate cancer incidence and risks:

• About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed in their lifetime
• Second most common cancer in men after skin cancer
• Second leading cancer death in men after lung cancer
• Over 3 million American men currently living with prostate cancer
• African-American men face 75% higher diagnosis risks than Caucasians
• Older men face higher risks - average ages are 66 (Caucasian) and 59 (African-American) at diagnosis
• Obese men have higher risks as do those with family history

In 2022 alone, doctors predict over a quarter million new prostate cancer cases and 35,000 deaths. Thankfully when detected early, the current 10-year survival rate exceeds 95%.

Prostate Cancer Causes and Risk Factors

Researchers don't fully understand why some men develop prostate cancer but risk factors include:

Age and Family History

Growing older raises prostate cancer risks substantially. Having close blood relatives - like a father, uncle or brother - diagnosed prior to age 65 also heightens danger.

Ethnic Background

African-American heritage increases odds of developing prostate cancer up to 75% over Caucasians. Hispanic/Latino men also face moderately higher risks.

Genetic Mutations

A small percentage of cancers stem from inheriting abnormal genes, like BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations. Men carrying these can develop aggressive, rapidly growing prostate tumors before age 55.

Obesity

Obese men face up to a 20% increased risk of getting prostate cancer. Belly fat in particular fuels production of hormones that may cause certain tumors to progress.

Smoking and Inflammation

Long-term tobacco smoking and chronic inflammation may contribute to prostate cell DNA changes that spark tumor growth.

While risk factors like genetics and age can't be controlled, lifestyle measures like achieving healthy body weight, exercising, not smoking, and eating anti-inflammatory foods can help lower prostate cancer risks.

Prostate Cancer Treatments

Today prostate cancer is very treatable if detected early. Treatment plans are tailored to each man's age, cancer stage, symptoms and health profile. Options may include:

Watchful Waiting

If an elderly man has an early, very slow growing prostate cancer that likely won't impact life expectancy, a physician may recommend no immediate treatment. Instead the cancer will be monitored carefully over time.

Surgery

Removing the prostate gland through radical prostatectomy eliminates localized cancer before it spreads. This may cure early stage prostate cancer completely if performed before metastasis.

Radiation Therapy

External beam radiation aims targeted beams from outside the body. Brachytherapy involves implanting radioactive seeds inside the prostate to destroy tumors.

Hormone Therapy

Medications and injections block hormones like testosterone that can stimulate prostate cancer growth. Helps control cancer recurrence and metastasis.

Chemotherapy

Cytotoxic, anti-cancer drugs kill fast growing cancer cells. Often used when prostate cancer is advanced or spread to organs distant from the prostate.

Treatment regimens may combine multiple tactics like surgically removing tumors then mopping up remaining cells with precisely targeted radiation.

Prostate Cancer Outlook and Survival Rates

When detected very early, prostate cancer survival rates exceed 95-99% across all stages. Even in advanced cases, newer treatments now help men manage cancer for many years with good quality of life.

Provided Al Roker's prostate cancer was caught early without spreading beyond his prostate gland, his prognosis looks very positive. His broadcasted surgery in coming weeks is expected to successfully remove all cancerous tissue.

Prostate Cancer Survival Rates by Stage

The American Cancer Society provides general prostate cancer survival statistics below. However, many factors affect individual prognosis:

• 5-year localized stage survival: Nearly 100%
• 5-year regional spread survival: 98%
• 5-year distant stage survival: 30%
• 10-year localized survival: 98%
• 10-year regional spread survival: 96%
• 10-year distant stage survival: 33%

Catching prostate cancer early before growing beyond the prostate gland itself brings excellent chances for long term survival.

Preventing Prostate Cancer

Research about definitively preventing prostate cancer is ongoing. But men can apply some diet and lifestyle measures to lower their risks:

• Maintain healthy body weight
• Choose plant foods high in antioxidants
• Increase omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and nuts
• Avoid processed and charred meats
• Manage chronic inflammation
• Stay physically active
• Don't smoke tobacco products

Adopting healthy habits plus getting regular screenings if you're higher risk gives men the best ability to catch any prostate abnormalities early or prevent them from developing.

The Bottom Line on Al Roker's Cancer

Acclaimed weather and TV personality Al Roker announced he has prostate cancer on November 6th, 2020. Fortunately his doctors detected the disease very early before it metastasized or advanced.

Roker has a common, slow-growing prostate tumor likely localized to his prostate gland. He will soon undergo successful robotic surgery to remove his prostate gland and eliminate the cancer.

By opening up about his early prostate cancer diagnosis and urgent need for screening, especially among Black men, Roker hopes to help save countless lives down the road.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.