A travel writer and host, Rick Steves, known for his numerous guidebooks, radio shows, and television programs in Europe, has revealed in an interview that he has prostate cancer.
Steves, 69, has written dozens of guidebooks, in the last four decades, and has also hosted a travel show, Rick Steves Europe; it was a series that made its debut in 2000, and has now aired for 12 seasons in the United States. Additionally, he has also hosted a radio show, and podcast Travel With Rick Steves.
The travel writer announced his diagnosis on Wednesday on his Instagram handle. Later, in an interview from his home in Seattle, he shared his experience of battling the disease and stated that he has numerous travel experiences that made him broaden his perspectives, and his diagnosis is not different.
In the telephonic interview, Steves said, “You learn a lot more about your home sometimes by leaving it and looking at it from a distance.”
He continued, “When you’re having a trip, it’s leaving your comfort zone, it’s leaving your home — and for me, a hospital is a very foreign place. The experience is, I’m meeting wonderful people, I’m gaining an appreciation of things I wouldn’t have gained otherwise, and I’m being reminded of what’s important in life.”
Steves said that he came to know about his disease after his new doctor advised him to go for a blood test. While he did not experience any symptoms, he agreed, further stating how the decision saved his life.
In an interview, he said, “It’s much better to check things in advance than to find out about them when it’s too late,”
However, the scans showcased that the cancer had not spread, and he had a clear recovery path. In the same interview, he said that it led to an uncomfortable yet novel experience which forced him to reveal the fragility of his health. Prostate Cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, and the second leading reason of death in American men.
He stated, “Statistically, all the odds are in my favour. He added “But I’m going into it with eyes open — I mean, I’ve got cancer. That’s a serious thing.”
The travel show host, after the diagnosis, got an appreciation for modern medicine, doctors, and equipment.
He concluded, “And then I’m going to go get the surgery and I’ll be shuffling around in my home in my pyjamas for a couple of weeks.”
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