Hall of Fame center Alonzo Mourning is speaking out after undergoing surgery to remove his prostate following a Stage 3 cancer diagnosis.
The seven-time All-Star center told ESPN on Monday that he is cancer-free after the March procedure, and that additional testing revealed the disease has not spread beyond his prostate capsule.
The 54-year-old Mourning added that he plans to be an advocate for prostate screening and the importance for at-risk men 45 years and older to undergo regular PSA blood tests.
surgery to remove his prostate. AP
“What scares me about this disease is that there are so many men walking around feeling great and have that cancer in them and they don’t know it,” Mourning told ESPN. “The only way to find out is to get their blood tested and get their PSA checked.
“There are 3.3 million men living in the U.S. with prostate cancer, and many don’t even know it. I was one of those guys.”
Mourning played 16 NBA seasons with the Hornets, the Heat and the Nets, including a championship with Miami in 2006.
He also resumed his playing career after missing the 2002-03 season following a kidney transplant.
He has served as a part of the Heat’s front office alongside Pat Riley as director of player programs and development since retiring in 2008.
The former Georgetown star also revealed that he has a history of prostate cancer in his family, including his father and his grandfather.
“Life was good and amazing for me, but if I had ignored getting checked and let this go, the cancer would’ve spread through my body,” Mourning said. “Unfortunately, as men, we don’t like to go to the doctor, but this is the only way to find out what’s going on in your body. Prostate and even colon cancer are silent killers and many men won’t get those diagnosis until it’s too late.
“We live in a world where it’s taboo among men to talk about health issues. If I didn’t get routine checkups, I probably wouldn’t be here to talk about this. I want men to be proactive with their health.”
Read more
