What Ben Stiller Can Teach Us About Prostate Cancer

What Ben Stiller Can Teach Us About Prostate Cancer and When to Be Tested

2 Key Takeaways from the Actor’s Journey with Prostate Cancer

“Taking the PSA test saved my life. Literally. That’s why I am writing this now.” – Ben Stiller

That quote was taken from a blog article written by Mr. Stiller in 2016. A prominent actor and director, Ben Stiller was shocked by the news that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

At age 46, his doctor recommended he get his PSA level checked. It was a few years early for normal recommendations, but that suggestion turned out to be potentially life-saving. Stiller, expresses a thankful heart to his doctor:

“If he had waited, as the American Cancer Society recommends, until I was 50, I would not have known I had a growing tumor until two years after I got treated. If he had followed the US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines, I would have never gotten tested at all, and not have known I had cancer until it was way too late to treat successfully.”

Here are two key takeaways we can glean from Ben Stiller’s journey.

1. Whether you think it’s helpful or not, consider getting a PSA test

There has been plenty of debate over PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) testing. Some think it’s helpful, like in Ben Stiller’s case, for early detection. Others think it’s unhelpful because of the many possibly needless treatment it might cause. One side says that it’s good because it falls under the “by any means necessary” approach to preventing and curing cancer. The other side says that’s it’s a way to benefit Big Medicine by adding more cost in the way of unnecessary additional treatments.

While there is still much to be learned, it seems the benefits out-weigh the cost. Better tests may be needed, but like Ben Stiller, you may be able to save your own life, starting with a simple test.

2. Instead of waiting until you are 50, consider getting tested as early as 40

Although the usual PSA testing recommendation for quite some time was age 50, now that suggestion has broadened. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should consider testing between the ages of 40 and 70. Ben Stiller’s test happened at age 46. Like he mentions above, had he waited until 50, he’s not sure he would be alive.

That’s not to say that he could not have been treated, or the cancer completely removed by the time he reached 50, but it is safe to say that early testing made a world of difference in the outcome. Sure, these kinds of tests are not fun, but the possible life-saving benefits far out-weight the potential momentary discomfort from a PSA test.

Take a few minutes and read Ben’s article. Even if, like Ben, you are not at high risk for prostate cancer or have no discernible symptoms, the test might still prove beneficial. Who knows, it could save your life. The earlier you check, the better. One last quote from Ben Stiller:

“This is a complicated issue, and an evolving one. But in this imperfect world, I believe the best way to determine a course of action for the most treatable, yet deadly cancer, is to detect it early.”