Al Roker was seen stepping out for a walk in Central Park Thursday as he announced he was back at home recovering from his prostate cancer...
Al Roker was seen stepping out for a walk in Central Park Thursday as he announced he was back at home recovering from his prostate cancer surgery and reassured colleagues and supporters he will 'see you all soon'.
The NBC Today show weather presenter, 66, tweeted Thursday afternoon to say he was 'relieved' to be home after undergoing surgery at the Josie Robertson Surgery Center in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, to have his prostate removed.
His update comes less than one week after he shocked viewers by announcing his cancer diagnosis live on air Friday morning.
It is not clear exactly when the procedure was but Roker was seen enjoying a spot of exercise in Manhattan's Central Park Thursday.
The TV host, who was not wearing a face mask, was power walking through the park with an unidentified woman.
Al Roker was seen stepping out for a walk in Central Park Thursday as he announced he was back at home recovering from his prostate cancer surgery and reassured colleagues and supporters he will 'see you all soon'
The NBC Today show weather presenter, 66, tweeted that he was 'relieved' to be home after undergoing surgery at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City. Roker shared this photo of him with his smiling wife, ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts
He shared a second photo giving a thumbs up to the camera while his 18-year-old son Nicholas puts his arm around him inside a room thought to be his home
'Relieved to let you all know that my #prostatecancer surgery is done and back home,' Roker tweeted Thursday.
'IA big shoutout to everyone at the #josierobertsonsurgerycenter and appreciate all the thoughts and wishes from our viewers and the wonderful care packages from my co-workers. See you all soon.'
Roker shared two photos of him, presumably post-surgery, alongside the post.
In the first, Roker wears a face mask while standing next to his smiling wife, ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts, outside in the city.
The second shows a smiling Roker giving a thumbs up to the camera while his 18-year-old son Nicholas puts his arm around him inside a room thought to be his home.
Roker's right hand is wrapped in a bandage but the TV host is all smiles.
Messages poured in on social media from his NBC coworkers and fans wishing him a speedy recovery.
It is not clear exactly when the procedure was but Roker was seen enjoying a spot of exercise in Manhattan's Central Park Thursday
The TV host, who was not wearing a face mask, was power walking through the park with an unidentified woman
'We love you Al! Get some rest, and cannot wait to see you soon,' tweeted NBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff.
Ari Odzer wrote 'You got this, Al! Get well soon!' while NBC reporter Kay Angrum tweeted 'Get well soon!'
Billy Eichner also tweeted: 'Hope you feel better soon Al!!'
'This is wonderful news. Thank you for sharing your private health challenges with us,' wrote actor Tish Brandt.
'You have been a beacon of love and light for years and we are better because of you and your talents and truth. Godspeed. See you soon, Al.'
Roker revealed last Friday live on the NBC morning show that he was battling aggressive prostate cancer.
He said the 'good news' was that he had been diagnosed early but that the cancer was 'a little aggressive'.
'Good news is we caught it earlier. Not great news is that it's a little aggressive. I'm going to be taking some time off to take care of this,' he said.
The TV host said he was diagnosed after going to his doctor for a routine checkup back in late September.
His doctor ordered more tests when he discovered Roker had an elevated prostate-specific antigen in his blood test results.
Roker then underwent an MRI and biopsy before the diagnosis was confirmed.
The 66-year-old spoke about the moment he learned of his diagnosis on NBC last week.
Messages poured in on social media from his NBC coworkers and fans wishing him a speedy recovery
'When [the doctor] started, he closed his door and said, "I always like to have these discussions face to face,"' he said.
'And I was like, "Uh-oh. Well, that doesn't sound good".
'You hear the word "cancer" and your mind goes, it's the next level, you know?'
Roker said he was alone when he heard the news because he had told his wife not to come with him.
'I feel badly, because I didn't tell Deborah to come with me. In hindsight, boy I wish I'd told her to come,' he said.
'She was upset. And once she got past that, the reporter in her kinda took over. And then she's been at everything ever since!'
Roker revealed on NBC's Today show last Friday that he was battling prostate cancer
The 66-year-old weather presenter and co-host made the announcement on the NBC morning show. The TV host said he could be back to work at NBC within just two weeks depending on how the surgery went
Roker's doctor, Dr Vincent Laudone, also spoke on the show and said the cancer appeared to be confined to Roker's prostate.
'Fortunately his cancer appears somewhat limited or confined to the prostate, but because it's more aggressive, we wanted to treat it,' Dr Laudone said.
'After discussion regarding all of the different options - surgery, radiation, focal therapy - we settled on removing the prostate.'
Roker said he wanted to share his story to encourage other men - especially black men - to have routine checkups.
'The problem for African American men is that any number of reasons from genetics to access to health care, and so we want to make it available and let people know they got to get checked,' Roker said.
The TV host said he could be back to work at NBC within just two weeks depending on how the surgery went.
He didn't provide an update on timings Thursday but vowed to 'see you all soon'.
No comments