Remembering Robbie Robertson — and Understanding Prostate Cancer

On screen

Robbie Robertson, the Canadian guitarist and songwriter who was a founding member of The Band and wrote enduring songs like "The Weight," died in August 2023 at the age of 80. According to widely reported coverage, he died after living with prostate cancer. He is remembered for a long and influential career in music, including a later chapter scoring films. We share this only to remember him with respect and to help readers understand the disease.

The reality

According to the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States, and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the country.

NCI notes an important and sometimes surprising point: prostate cancer usually grows very slowly. Because of that, finding and treating it before it causes symptoms may not always improve a man's health or help him live longer. This is part of why decisions about screening and treatment for prostate cancer can be more nuanced than for some other cancers, and are best made together with a healthcare team.

NCI provides information on prostate cancer treatment, prevention, screening, and statistics, and describes options that can range from close monitoring to surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, and other approaches, depending on the individual situation.

What the story gets right — and what to remember

Robbie Robertson's death is a reminder that prostate cancer is common, especially with age, and that it can be serious. But it is also true, per NCI, that many prostate cancers grow slowly and behave very differently from one man to the next.

A single public story cannot tell us how any individual's cancer will behave or what the right care is. Age, overall health, and the specific features of the cancer all matter. Stories like this are best used as a prompt to learn and to talk with a doctor — not as medical advice.

Awareness, screening & prevention

The NCI offers detailed patient information on prostate cancer screening, including the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, as well as on prevention. Because prostate cancer often grows slowly, NCI emphasizes that screening involves weighing potential benefits against potential harms — including the possibility of finding and treating cancers that would never have caused problems.

For this reason, NCI frames prostate cancer screening as a personal decision to make with a healthcare provider, based on age, family history, and individual risk, rather than a one-size-fits-all recommendation.

Turning a story into something useful

Remembering someone like Robbie Robertson can lead somewhere constructive: learning what prostate cancer is, understanding that screening is a personal conversation, and encouraging the men in our lives to talk with their doctors. Free, accurate cancer education helps families approach these decisions with information rather than fear.

Questions to ask a healthcare team

• Given my age and family history, should I consider prostate cancer screening?
• What are the potential benefits and harms of the PSA test for someone like me?
• If a screening result is abnormal, what would the next steps be?
• If prostate cancer is found, what treatment options — including active monitoring — might apply?