Cancer Type- Prostate
Short Bio – Ben Stiller, actor and comedian went on 3-month roller coaster ride from diagnosis to cancer free that 180,000 American men identify with yearly. Read his story here…
Story – Diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 48, Ben Stiller actively raises awareness for the disease. He is cancer free. In his personal article on Medium he stated, “As I learned more about my disease (one of the key learnings is not to Google “people who died of prostate cancer” immediately after being diagnosed with prostate cancer), I was able to wrap my head around the fact that I was incredibly fortunate. Fortunate because my cancer was detected early enough to treat. And also because my internist gave me a test he didn’t have to.”
What does Ben Stiller credit to being cancer free today? A PSA test. PSA (prostate-specific antigen) detected an elevated level of protein produced by the prostate gland when Stiller was 46. At 48, the test revealed cancer for the actor. He had no symptoms, nor family history for prostate cancer. The test is typically not given to men until the age of 50, and Ben credit’s his doctor for early screening. He caught it early, and today, recommends men get PSA Screenings.
Treatment for prostate cancer does not come without risk. Men can experience problems surrounding sexual function and difficulty with their urination after surgery. Incontinence and impotence can cause problems for the rest of their lives. When asked by Matt Lauer about his side effects after surgery, he said, “all good” and gave a double thumbs up sign.
When someone has a platform to share and open conversation, it helps others. Thank you Ben for your advocacy with prostate cancer.
– Read Ben Stiller’s Medium Article
– Read Ben Stiller’s Interview with Matt Lauer
Ben Stiller Wife – Christine Taylor (married in 2000)
Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/BenStiller/
Charity Foundation – https://www.thestillerfoundation.org/
Image Credits – By Michael Schilling (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
| Born | Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller, November 30, 1965 (age 51), New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Residence | Westchester County, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, filmmaker |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Spouse(s) | Christine Taylor (m. 2000) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara (deceased) |
| Comedy career | |
| Medium | Stand-up, film, television |
| Genres | Observational comedy, physical comedy, surreal humor |
| Subject(s) | Everyday life, popular culture, politics, celebrities |
