In memory
Desmond Tutu and Prostate Cancer: A Voice for Awareness
Archbishop Desmond Tutu lived with prostate cancer and spoke openly to encourage men to get checked. Here's what the diagnosis really means.
Please note: this page is educational only — it is not medical advice, and it does not speculate about anyone’s health beyond reliable public reporting. For questions about your own health, talk with your healthcare team.
On screen
Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a South African religious leader and human rights champion, celebrated worldwide for his role in the struggle against apartheid and for his moral voice. It was widely reported that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the late 1990s and lived with the disease for many years, speaking publicly about it to encourage other men to get checked. He died in Cape Town on December 26, 2021, at the age of 90. He is remembered for his courage, his joy, and his willingness to share his own health journey to help others.
The reality
According to the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. NCI notes an important and often surprising fact: prostate cancer usually grows very slowly, and finding and treating it before symptoms occur may not always improve a man's health or help him live longer. Prostate cancer begins in the prostate, a small gland that is part of the male reproductive system.
What the story gets right — and what to remember
Public accounts describe Tutu living with prostate cancer over many years — a course that reflects how this cancer often behaves. As NCI explains, many prostate cancers grow slowly. But prostate cancer varies from person to person, and some cases are more aggressive than others. That is why decisions about testing and treatment are so individual. Tutu's openness was a gift to public awareness, but his experience is not a template for anyone else, and it is not medical advice.
Awareness, screening & prevention
Prostate cancer is a cancer for which the National Cancer Institute provides evidence-based information on screening and prevention. NCI offers PDQ information on prostate cancer screening, including material on the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test — while also noting that, because many prostate cancers grow slowly, screening is a decision to weigh carefully rather than an automatic step. NCI likewise offers PDQ prevention information. Because the benefits and trade-offs of PSA testing depend on the individual, the best approach is an informed conversation with a healthcare team about whether and when to be tested.
Turning a story into something useful
Tutu used his own diagnosis to encourage men to talk to their doctors — and that is exactly the useful takeaway. Learning the plain facts about prostate cancer, having an honest conversation with a healthcare team about the pros and cons of screening, and sharing accurate information with the men in our lives are all worthwhile. Free cancer education helps keep that knowledge available to everyone.
Questions to ask a healthcare team
- Given my age and family history, should I consider PSA testing?
- What are the potential benefits and downsides of prostate cancer screening for me?
- What does it mean that many prostate cancers grow slowly?
- Where can I find reliable, plain-language information about prostate cancer?