What do these men have in common?
January 6, 2009 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Ok, pop quiz: What do these men have in common?
- Former Secretary of State Colin Powell
- Singer Harry Belafonte
- Golfer Arnold Palmer
- Former South African President Nelson Mandela
- Musician Frank Zappa
Answer…
They all had prostate cancer.
Breast cancer is talked about all the time among the rich and famous, so it seems, but prostate cancer - not so much. Luckily, there are famous men who are speaking out about their diagnosis and battles with the disease. The more who talk, hopefully the more men will get the message about prostate cancer screening.
Colin Powell had localized prostate cancer for which he had surgery in 2003. He was 66 at the time of diagnosis and all seems well up to now.
In 1997, Harry Belafonte was the subject of this very interesting article on his battle with prostate cancer and the subsequent incontinence and impotence. He said that these things needed to be discussed for men to realize that they’re not alone.
Arnold Palmer, a golfer that was popular wherever he went, is another man who was shocked by a diagnosis of prostate cancer. His story The Legend Continues…. is a good run down on how he coped.
Nelson Mandela is one man who has experienced more than his share of pain - both physical and emotional. In 2001 he, too, was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was 83 at the time and this miraculous and inspiring man underwent 7 weeks of radiotherapy and continues to live his life, a symbol of freedom that couldn’t be denied.
Frank Zappa was one of the unlucky ones. He was diagnosed with advanced, inoperable prostate cancer in 1990 - it had been present for 10 years, reports say. He died in 1993. Other famous men who died of prostate cancer include actors Telly Savalas (most known for his portrayal of detective Kojak), Bill Bixby (from The Courtship of Eddy’s Father and the Incredibly Hulk TV series, among others), and Linus Pauling, PhD, a 2-time Nobel Prize winner.
Get checked. Be screened. A little bit of discomfort with a digital rectal exam and a blood test can and does save lives.
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Tags: cancer blog, bill bixby, frank zappa, harry belafonte, nelson mandela, former secretary of state colin powell, digital rectal exam, died of prostate cancer, diagnosed with prostate cancer
