‘All My Children’ Soap Actor Colin Egglesfield, 51, Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer After Battling Testicular Cancer Twice. After a Life-Saving PSA Test, He ‘Elected To Be Proactive & Have Surgery’

He started his post with the quote, “It’s not the hand that you’ve been dealt because you can’t change that. It’s how you play the cards that counts,” writing, “I found this quote from an interview I did when I was 25 and it has served me well throughout my life including recently.”

Egglesfield then addressed how the start of 2025 was nothing short of easy and insisted he’s choosing to move forward with optimism and resilience in the “face of uncertainty and challenges” after his 3rd cancer diagnosis.

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He wrote in his post, “Thankfully, we caught my prostate cancer early and after a year of doing a lot of research and talking to quite a few health care professionals, I elected to be proactive and have surgery.

“I’m so grateful for the amazing support and care I’ve received over the past few months from @cityofhopephx, Dr. Gellhaus and all the nurses, other doctors, and staff that have been instrumental in supporting me through this scary time.”

Egglesfield then shared how he hopes his story will remind others they are “not alone with whatever you’re facing,” in addition to, that “it’s important to advocate for yourself and your health which includes checkups, seeking information and asking for help when you need it!”

RELATED: “All My Children” and “Rizzoli and Isles” Heartthrob Colin Egglesfield Says He Thought All Was Lost After His Second Cancer Diagnosis

After expressing his gratitude toward all who have wished him well, he said he’s “getting healthier and stronger” as each day goes by, adding, “I’m still a bit sore but I’m making progress and am determined to come back stronger and healthier than ever especially with the help of my sexy walker.”

He concluded, “It all starts with a decision to commit to what you decide to be with whatever you’re facing. I decide to be RESILIENCE, FAITH, COURAGE, GRACE and INSPIRATION. What do you choose to be?

“I’m also honored to be leading @cityofhope and their @cityofhopecancerfighters program next month and to be able to support others on their cancer journey. Let’s go! You’re not alone! And fellas, be sure to get your PSA checked regularly. It saved my life!”

The PSA screening test, also known as the PSA blood test, can be a valuable resource in catching prostate early, as it did in Egglesfield’s case.

RELATED: PSA Test Is Not Perfect, But It Is Helpful

In a followup Instagram post, captioned “Wednesday Check In,” praising his fans and loved ones for their support following his cancer announcement, Egglesfield said “surgery went really well.”

It’s important to note that prostate cancer surgery is one treatment avenue for men grappling with this disease. However, surgery may bring forth lingering side effects, such as erectile dysfunction. Thankfully, there are avenues available to alleviate some of these challenges.

He added, “It’s amazing how incredible we all can be when we all care and we rally around each other, to support each other, and especially with what’s going on in Los Angeles right now, it’s really good to see so many people coming together to support so many people who have lost their homes.

“I can’t even imagine what that must be like and my heartfelt condolences go out to everyone out there who have lost their homes. I think at the end of the day, what it really comes down to, is what matters most.

He explained further, “I think the experience in Los Angeles and me personally, having my surgery last week, I’m just constantly reminded of the amazing people that we have in our lives to support us and to just be there for us when we need it.

“I’ve had some pretty emotional conversations over the past few weeks and it still gets me a little emotional talking about it because cancer and any health experience is scary … it’s never something that you plan for, never anything that you would expect, similar to what we saw in Los Angeles [regarding the wildfires] … you never expect this kind of stuff.”

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Egglesfield concluded, “But we have to remind ourselves that life is life and as much as we try to plan for it … you know, that saying, ‘If you want to make God laugh, just make a plan” … I think the best thing we can do is to have our goals, our dreams, and work toward those and surround ourselves with amazing people that love us and support us.

“And just appreciate every single day for what we have, and who we have with us, to move forward.”

Egglesfield was then commended by his fans for his ability to open up about his health struggle, with one commenting, “You’re phenomenal the amount of enlightenment and motivation that you use your platform for is incredible.

“I have learned a lot and I pray that your journey to healing continues in light and positivity and that God continues to heal you and guide you along the way!”

Another fan wrote, “Glad your surgery went well. Love the positivity and vulnerability, which right now, people need as much as they can get. Thank you for your update.”

Colin Egglesfield’s Testicular Cancer Battles

Egglesfield, who successfully battled testicular cancer twice, according to City of Hope, was first diagnosed with the disease in 2006.

Speaking to Fox News during a 2019 interview, recounting what led to his diagnosis, he said, “I just noticed that my left testicle had swelled up, and I went to see the doctor.”

RELATED: Ohio State Buckeye Freshman, 20, Dismissed Groin Soreness As a Pulled Muscle. It Was Testicular Cancer. Now He’s Urging Others ‘Don’t Wait Around’ To Get Checked

Further testing let him to learn his diagnosis was at an “advanced” stage. And one year after his first diagnosis, he discovered the cancer spread to his other testicle.

He said at the time, “It’s not something that men normally like to talk about, and for the longest time, I didn’t want to talk about it because it’s something very personal.

RELATED: Testicular Cancer Can Manifest In Interesting Ways, Know The Signs Of This Rare Disease During Testicular Cancer Awareness Month

“I just noticed that my left testicle had swelled up, and I went to see the doctor and he said that we needed to do some tests, ultrasound, a blood test. And they discovered that it was at a pretty advanced stage, and did the surgery and found that some of the cancer cells had gone through the veins and arteries to the kidneys.”

After undergoing surgery to remove the cancer, he learned he had cancer in his other testicle just one year later. He completed further treatment and was ultimately dubbed “cancer-free.”

It’s important to note that a testicular cancer diagnosis is rare, but it is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in young men.

Depending on the stage, the disease is considered extremely treatable. Treatment options can include chemotherapy and radiation, but often the first line of treatment is surgery to remove the testicle which contains the cancerous cells.

RELATED: Dealing With the Shame That May Come With Testicular Cancer

Symptoms of testicular cancer can be subtle. Some people may even confuse the early symptoms such as a small mass in their testicle as an injury. But when these signs are dismissed, the cancer can grow and become worse.

Understanding Prostate Cancer

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, it’s important to remember that most types of prostate cancers are treatable. According to the National Cancer Institute, the five-year survival rate of prostate cancer in the U.S. is 97.1%. There is, however, a small number of men whose type of prostate cancer may become unresponsive to treatment, for example, when cancer cells develop a resistance hormone therapy, the treatment may no longer work.

Prostate cancer begins in the prostate the walnut-shaped gland located between the rectum and bladder that produces the fluid that nourishes sperm. Outside of skin cancers, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men with about one in eight men being diagnosed with this disease during his lifetime.

It’s important to remember a prostate cancer diagnosis is not always preceded by symptoms. And even when symptoms do occur, they can be inconsistent and hard to pinpoint.

 

“Prostate cancer is a very odd disease in that it doesn’t have a particular symptom,” Dr. Edwin Posadas, director of translational oncology and the medical director of the Urologic Oncology Program at Cedars-Sinai, told SurvivorNet.

Still, it’s important to note changes in urinary function, like urinating more or less often or waking up at night to go more than usual, could be a sign of prostate cancer. So, even if you think there’s nothing to worry about, always talk to your doctor about changes to your health when they occur.

There are many different treatment options for both early and later-stage prostate cancer including active surveillance, watchful waiting, surgery, radiation, cryotherapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. The disease is one where doctors may have differing opinions on the best treatment path to take, so don’t hesitate to ask lots of questions and seek out multiple opinions.

Second (& Third) Opinions Matter When Deciding Between Surgery or Radiation

“I think it behooves the patient to have multiple discussions or second opinions, not only by the urologist who did the biopsy and diagnosed that man, but also with other surgeons and other radiation oncologist just to get a very circumspect view of what the treatment options are,” Dr. Jim Hu, a urologic oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, told SurvivorNet. “Oftentimes, I think patients need to understand that our health system is based a lot on fee-for-service medicine.

“And so therefore, a lot of physicians, I think, who are very well intentioned, will believe that their treatment is best for that particular man,” Dr. Hu added.

Surgery Options for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer treatment depends on the results of a prostate exam, your PSA numbers, and your Gleason Score, which helps determine how aggressive the cancer is.

Your doctor will determine your risk level, which ranges from low to intermediate to high. Men with low risk and very low risk may bypass surgery. Meanwhile, men at higher risk may receive more intense treatment.

WATCH: Dr. David Wise, NYU Langone medical oncologist, explains how Gleason’s score affects treatment and prognosis.

Surgery is an option for men with any risk group of prostate cancer that hasn’t spread outside of the prostate gland. The surgery procedure is called a radical prostatectomy. During this procedure, the surgeon removes the entire prostate, along with some tissue around it, including the seminal vesicles that release fluid into the semen. Your doctor can perform this through a traditional open procedure called laparoscopic surgery with one large or several small incisions.

“It’s typically done through a robotic technique today, at least in the United States,  but a lot of patients are still getting open surgery,” Dr. Stephen Freedland, a urologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, explained to SurvivorNet.

“Depending on the surgeon, it may be two, three, four, five hours — somewhere in that range, usually spend one night in the hospital. You wake up from the surgery with a catheter in your bladder. Once you’re home, it’s really just recovering, gaining your strength back,” Dr. Freedland continued.

WATCH: How do you choose the right surgeon, particularly for robotic surgery? 

Other common treatment options for men with prostate cancer include:

Radiation therapy

You’ll usually get this treatment five days a week for several weeks. Newer techniques include stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), which aims for more focused radiation beams at the tumor to spare surrounding healthy tissues and may allow treatment in a shorter time.

Brachytherapy implants small seeds containing radiation directly into your prostate. This type of radiation works best in men with smaller prostates.

If your prostate is very large, your doctor might give you hormone therapy first to shrink it.

Combination radiation therapy with hormonal therapy

Androgens are male hormones that fuel the growth of prostate cancer. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), also known as hormone therapy, reduces levels of these hormones your body makes to slow the cancer’s growth.

“Usually, for men with tumors that spread, hormonal therapy is usually the first line that we do, and more importantly, it’s the backbone upon which we build,” Dr. Freedland explained to SurvivorNet.

Surgery followed by radiation

Radiation therapy can be used after surgery to get rid of any cancer cells that were left behind. Getting radiation along with surgery is called adjuvant therapy.

Sometimes, men who have surgery will need radiation therapy after surgery if the surgeon cannot remove all of the prostate, your PSA does not become undetectable, or you have a high-risk genetic profile if the tissue is sent for testing.

Men with high-risk and very high-risk prostate cancer are more likely to require radiation after surgery than men with lower-risk disease.

The Side-Effects of Prostate Cancer Surgery

Prostate cancer warriors need to ask their doctor questions about the side effects of surgery.

Some of the known side effects of prostate cancer surgery include erectile dysfunction (difficulty getting or keeping an erection) and urinary incontinence (leaking urine by accident).

Treatments for prostate cancer, especially surgery, can damage nerves and blood vessels essential for erectile function, leading to ED. The risk for these side effects depends on the type of surgical approach and factors specific to your cancer.

WATCH: Sexual Function Recovery After Prostate Cancer Surgery

“Erectile function is so sensitive when we’re dealing with prostate cancer because of the fact that the nerves that are critical for this function wrap around the prostate; they’re just so intimately connected to the prostate that they can be damaged from a surgical removal of the prostate or through radiation treatment,” Dr. Isla Garraway, a staff urologist in the Veterans Administration (VA) Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, tells SurvivorNet.

Dr. Freedland says that most people regain normal function in these areas over time.

Opting for nerve-sparing surgery can reduce this risk, though it may not suit everyone. Nerve-sparing surgery involves removing cancer without harming the nerves, but if the cancer is near the nerves, it may need removal.

Within a year of nerve-sparing prostatectomy, 40% to 50% of men are back to their pre-cancer sexual function.

For men experiencing erectile dysfunction, they should know there are plenty of solutions.

Oral medications — usually a pill — work for mild to moderate ED by enhancing blood flow to the penis to bring on an erection.

There are medications currently on the market that can aid in sustaining erections, such as Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. There are also treatments such as penile injections and vacuum erection devices (VED), as well as the option of a penile prosthesis. Vacuum erection devices use vacuum pressure to draw blood into the penis, inducing an erection.

Dr. Freedland says there are two main prosthetic options: an inflatable prosthesis placed in the scrotum or a bendable plastic prosthesis.

According to Dr. Freedland, most men who choose this route report being pleased with the outcome.

Doctors often recommend sexual counseling after prostate cancer treatment to help improve sexual function. This approach actively addresses the psychological, emotional, and relationship impacts on sexual health.

In counseling, individuals and couples can discuss concerns, explore sexual aids and techniques, and find ways to maintain intimacy.

Surgery Isn’t Always the First Option; Some Choose ‘Active Surveillance’

It’s common for prostate cancer to grow very slowly. Some men, especially those who are older and those who have a low risk of the cancer spreading, may not need aggressive treatment, making active surveillance a viable option.

WATCH: People With Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Can Rely on Monitoring the Disease

Active surveillance means the doctor watches the cancer carefully for changes, with a PSA blood test every six months and a digital rectal exam about once a year. You may also get prostate biopsies and imaging tests every one to three years.

SurvivorNet experts stress active surveillance is not “watchful waiting.” Active surveillance is a treatment, and as the name implies, it is active. This path requires coordination between the patient and their healthcare team.

“[It’s] not just kind of check in once a year—hey, how are you doing—but actively have a physician check a PSA and do a rectal examination,” Dr. Edwin Posadas, director of the Translational Oncology Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told SurvivorNet.

“We can actually see some of the metabolic information within the cells through our next-generation imaging and find high-risk areas that are or are not changing in a patient to let us know, yeah, that cancer’s still sleeping. Let’s not bother– let’s not put that young man through the risk of losing his sexual quality of life or his urinary quality of life,” Dr. Posadas added.

Half of men who choose this approach will avoid unnecessary treatment and potential side effects.

But the other half of men do end up having treatment, whether as a personal decision to remove the cancer or to treat the disease as it progresses. Your doctor will determine if this is necessary based on the results of your ongoing tests.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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