Travel television host Rick Steves, who has guided Americans around Europe for nearly half a century, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will undergo surgery this fall.
“My doctor assures me that if you're going to get cancer, this is a good type of cancer to treat, and careful tests show no signs of it having spread,” the guide's author said Wednesday in a post on X announcing his diagnosis. “There's a clear path to health, and I'll be in the hospital for a few days this fall for prostate surgery.”
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the country, according to the National Cancer Institute. Prostate cancer typically grows very slowly, and surgery is a common treatment for healthy patients whose tumor is only in the prostate gland, the institute says.
The veteran host of “Rick Steves' Europe” said his doctors are OK with him filming two new shows in France over the next three weeks. He said he plans to return home to Edmonds, Washington, in mid-September before his procedure at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle.
Steves, 69, did not say what stage his cancer was or what type of surgery he would undergo, but he remained positive about his prognosis and was eager to return to work.
“I’ll probably have surgery at the end of September, be bedridden for a month, and God willing, I’ll be cancer-free and back to full strength by the end of October,” he said. The PBS host assured his followers that he trusts his doctor and the staff at the cancer center and said he has “so much more to be thankful for… including the support of friends and loved ones and a strong faith that I’m in good hands.”
“While the statistics tell me I should be fine, I have been fortunate enough to have never spent a night in a hospital, and I find myself going into this adventure almost as if it were an incredible and truly important journey,” she added.
“I feel good about my positive attitude and hope to take home some lovely, albeit intangible, memories, such as: appreciating and seeing the vitality in the little things; appreciating the goodness of people and the treasure of friends and family; being dazzled by modern medicine and the army of amazing, intelligent, dedicated people who make it possible; appreciating what a blessing life, health, and enjoying this world are; and, overall, being more grateful.”
The best-selling author, who spends about four months of every year abroad, said he looks forward to “many more years of happy travels, exciting collaborations and beautiful friendships.” He also thanked his fans for their love and support and asked them for “travel tips” as he embarks on his final journey.
The radio host and travel columnist started his business, Rick Steves' Europe, in 1976 and produces a series of best-selling travel guides. His television show aired on PBS from 2000 to 2020. The company also offers small-group tours that take 30,000 travelers to Europe each year, according to its website.
