Nearly a year after Montell Jordan was diagnosed with Stage 1 prostate cancer and underwent a prostatectomy as treatment, the “This Is How We Do It” singer has revealed that follow-up scans detected cancer has returned and is in his lymph nodes.
The Grammy-nominated singer appeared on Today Show to share the health update with his fans.
“I always imagined I would be telling my prostate cancer story from the other side of prostate cancer because I had a radical prostatectomy surgery. My prostate was removed.”
“There were clear margins,” Jordan said. “Close to a year post-prostatectomy, I still need to go back and have additional treatments because it’s [been] detected that there is still cancer.”
He felt called to share his story, which he’s doing in a documentary called “Sustain,” premiering next year. He also partnered with the nonprofit ZERO Prostate Cancer to raise awareness of the importance of regular prostate cancer screening for Black men.
According to Johns Hopkins Hospital, the following clinical stages are used to describe prostate cancer:
T1: The tumor cannot be felt during the DRE or seen during imaging (e.g., a computed tomography (CT) scan or transrectal ultrasound). It may be found when surgery is done for another medical condition.
T1a: The tumor is discovered accidentally during a surgical procedure used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is the abnormal growth of benign prostate cells. Cancer is only found in 5 percent or less of the tissue removed.
T1b: The tumor is found accidentally during BPH surgery. Cancer cells are detected in more than 5 percent of the tissue removed.
T1c: The tumor is found during a needle biopsy that was performed because of an elevated PSA level.
T2: The tumor appears to be confined to the prostate. Due to the size of the tumor, the doctor can feel it during the DRE. The cancer may also be seen with imaging.
T2a: The tumor has invaded one-half (or less) of one side of the prostate.
T2b: The tumor has spread to more than one-half of one side of the prostate, but not to both sides.
T2c: The cancer has invaded both sides of the prostate.
T3: The tumor has grown outside the prostate. It may have spread to the seminal vesicles.
T3a: The tumor has developed outside the prostate; however, it has not spread to the seminal vesicles.
T3b: The tumor has spread to the seminal vesicles.
T4: The tumor has spread to tissues next to the prostate, other than the seminal vesicles. For example, the cancer may be growing in the rectum, bladder, urethral sphincter (muscle that controls urination) and/or pelvic wall.
On December 3rd of last year, his 56th birthday, Montell posted a video to his social media. In the video, Montell doesn’t physically share any words, instead he used handwritten signs and turned the pages through each one to tell the story. One slide says that his wife, kids and extended family has been his tribe. Another slide read that his church was an incredible inspiration to keep going.
Throughout the video, he shared what he learned: He said he can do hard things, but he can’t do hard things alone.
View this post on Instagram
In Montell’s first heartfelt video, he said early detection saved his life. And honestly, it can save the lives of so many other Black men.
Prostate cancer can be detected early through screening tests, which are available for men without symptoms. The two most common tests are:
If either test is abnormal, further testing may be needed, such as a prostate biopsy, MRI scan, or transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) biopsy.
“I would go regularly to my doctor for screenings, and at that time — we’re talking over a decade ago — most prostate screenings were kind of taboo,” Jordan shared. “(Doctors) have to go in through the rectum and do the finger check, and so I would do that, and they were taking blood samples.”
Having more than a decade’s worth of PSA tests led to Jordan’s early diagnosis.
“Because I was going and had a history of what my blood levels were like, that’s how they were able to detect it,” he says. “Hearing that it was early on, that it was first stage for me … which is treatable, that was probably the saving grace.”
Early detection of prostate cancer is important because it can lead to a better prognosis. Almost 100% of men with early-stage prostate cancer survive more than 5 years after diagnosis, compared to about one-third of men with advanced prostate cancer.
Being diagnosed with prostate cancer can be frightening and alarming for anyone, yet Jordan felt hopeful that doctors found it early.
“Early detection is the thing that allows me to have a choice to treat (my cancer) and live and to continue giving myself the best quality of life possible,” he says.
“I’ve already had a fantastic quality of life even following my prostate removal,” declares Jordan. “So I believe that even after this next treatment that I have to do, it will eradicate the cancer from my body and still have a great quality of life moving forward.”
Our prayers our with you, Montell!
By subscribing, you consent to receive emails from BlackDoctor.com. You may unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.
