“Fortunate to be Cancer-Free”: Ben Stiller Opens Up in Interview

Ben Stiller revealed in October that he was diagnosed with cancer in 2014.

Ben Stiller. (Photo: Screengrab from TODAY)

In his first television interview after he revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostrate cancer, Hollywood actor Ben Stiller told Today's Matt Lauer that he is "really fortunate to be cancer free as of today".

Stiller revealed in October that he was diagnosed with cancer in 2014 after undergoing a prostrate specific antigen (PSA) test.

The test measures levels of PSA, which is a protein produced by cells of the prostrate gland in a man's blood.

It’s a whole new world, so you need to educate yourself. For me, it was learning what the options were. It’s a real thing, but when you’re confronted with the question of, ‘Hey, do you want to live or do you want to make sure your sex life is the best it can be?’ I opted for wanting to get rid of the cancer and see what happens, and luckily everything is cool.

One in seven men are prone to getting prostrate cancer, which is why doctors recommend PSA tests for men nearing 50 years of age. A survey found that 54 percent of men don’t know what a PSA test was.

(With inputs from Today)