Ben Stiller Is Cancer Free! Advocates Early Detection Test for Prostate Cancer

Ben Stiller has opened up about his battle with cancer.

According to Today, in Ben Stiller's first interview since he revealed he had prostate cancer, the actor said he was fortunate to call himself cancer free. Stiller explained that its a whole new world for him, and he had to keep educating himself, like learning what the options were. Stiller took the option of having his prostate removed. 

He said he was fortunate that the course of treatment was basically an operation, and there was nothing beyond that.

Ben Stiller had said last month that he has been suffering from cancer since June 2014, when he was 48 years old. Stiller reportedly had no symptoms at the time, nor any family history, but was detected by an antigen test he had been taking from 46.

The report says that the test measures the level of PSA, a protein produced by the prostate gland, in man's blood. The blood level of PSA is reportedly elevated in men with Prostate cancer.  The test is quite controversial because a lot of benign conditions cause a male's PSA level to rise, but most doctors recommend yearly PSA screening for men.

The Mirror reports that Ben Stiller has called himself a fan of the test, and wants to spread awareness because it was early detection that helped him overcome cancer. His surgeon, Edward Schaeffer, said that men can have difficulty in urination, and sexual function after treatment for prostate cancer, and the doctor recommends active treatment for prostate cancer patients, as against just taking treatment.

Ben Stiller says that he was confronted with a dilemma whether he wants to live or whether he wants his sex life to be the best, and he just chose to get rid of cancer, said the report.