Friends actor James Michael Tyler, who played Gunther, says he has advanced prostate cancer - ABC News

James Michael Tyler, who played Gunther on the hit TV show Friends, has revealed he has been "dealing with" late-stage prostate cancer.

Key points:

• Mr Tyler's cancer has now spread to his bones and caused paraplegia
• 17,000 people are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in Australia
• Prostate cancer is detected via a PSA test, which can be sought via a GP

Appearing on US breakfast show Today, Mr Tyler opened up about the diagnosis he received in 2018.

"I was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, which had spread to my bones," Mr Tyler said.

"I've been dealing with that diagnosis for almost the past three years. ... It's stage 4. Late-stage cancer. So eventually, you know, it's gonna probably get me."

Mr Tyler said he began hormone therapy, which "worked amazingly for about a year," allowing him to "go about life regularly" while on medication.

"All I had to do was take a pill in the morning and the night, and boom, life was pretty much normal," he said.

Mr Tyler said he decided to share his story in the hopes that it will lead to someone else finding their cancer earlier.(

Supplied

)

While the early days were optimistic, Mr Tyler said that the cancer eventually spread to his bones and spine, leading to paraplegia.

"I missed going in for a test, which was not a good thing," he said.

"So the cancer decided to mutate at the time of the pandemic, and so it's progressed."

Mr Tyler said he decided to share his story in the hopes that it will lead to someone else finding their cancer earlier.

"There are other options available to men if they catch it before me," Mr Tyler said.

"Next time you go in for just a basic exam or your yearly checkup, please ask your doctor for a PSA (prostate specific antigen) test.

"It's easily detectable. ... If it spreads beyond the prostate to the bones, which is most prevalent in my form, it can be a lot more difficult to deal with."

Loading

Mr Tyler said the illness kept him from appearing in person at the "Friends" reunion that aired in May. Instead, he appeared on Zoom.

"I wanted to be a part of that, and initially I was going to be on the stage, at least, with them, and be able to take part in all the festivities," Mr Tyler said.

"It was my decision not to be a part of that physically and make an appearance on Zoom, basically, because I didn't wanna bring a downer on it, you know?

"I didn't want to be like, 'Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer.'"

According to the Cancer Council, 17,000 people are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in Australia.

The chance of developing prostate cancer is significantly higher in those who have a close relative with prostate cancer.

PSA tests are not necessary for everyone, however, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

It says a test result that reveals an elevated PSA level can be indicative of prostate cancer, but it can also be caused by a number of benign conditions that are not cancerous.

Overdiagnosis of prostate cancer can lead to unnecessary treatments that have side effects such as sexual impotence, urinary incontinence and bowel problems.

Both the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Cancer Council urge anyone with concerns about prostate cancer to speak to their doctor about the risks and benefits of a PSA test.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiX2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTA2LTIyL2phbWVzLW1pY2hhZWwtdHlsZXItYW5ub3VuY2VzLWNhbmNlci1kaWFnbm9zaXMvMTAwMjMyOTY20gEoaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEwMDIzMjk2Ng?oc=5

2021-06-21 22:40:45Z
52781682367772