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Today show weatherman Al Roker is recovering from surgery to remove his prostate, following a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
Roker shared the diagnosis with viewers on November 6, explaining that doctors caught cancer early, during an exam in September. He also said it was “a little aggressive” and that he chose to remove the organ rather than alternatives, such as radiation. He has since taken a leave of absence.
Roker updated fans on Thursday, thanking them for their thoughts and good wishes. He also expressed his gratitude to the team at Josie Robertson Surgery Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, where he was treated, and his colleagues at 30 Rock for sending care packages.
His post appeared alongside photos with his 25-year-old wife, ABC News reporter Deborah Roberts, and their 18-year-old son Nick. (Roker also has two grown daughters.)
Even Roker’s update elicited loving responses, such as “You’ve got this!” and “Get well soon, Al!” They asked him to take care of himself. “You are my sunshine every morning of the week !!!” one person commented.
On Roberts’ Instagram, she posted a sweet note congratulating her husband on his “indomitable spirit.”
The 66-year-old, who joined Today in 1996, has received widespread support since speaking about his condition. He even asked his doctor to talk about his case.
Roker said it was important for him to make his diagnosis public because so many men are affected by the disease. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It also disproportionately affects black men.
“One of my main driving forces in publicizing my prostate cancer diagnosis is to meaningfully educate and hopefully save lives,” Roker said, “especially for African American men, who are twice as likely to die from this disease. “
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