Amid Ongoing Struggles with Prostate Cancer Remission and Recent Absences, the Beloved Weatherman Opens Up About His Battle – Fans Rally with Prayers and Support
NEW YORK – November 19, 2025 – In a moment that left the Today show studio and viewers at home fighting back tears, Al Roker delivered a raw, unfiltered health update that underscored the ongoing toll of his battle with prostate cancer. The 71-year-old weatherman, a fixture on NBC’s morning staple for nearly three decades, grew visibly emotional as he revealed, “There’s no magic remedy that can assist me in conquering this sickness.” The confession came during Tuesday’s broadcast, just days after Roker marked five years since his 2020 diagnosis and surgery, and amid a string of recent absences that sparked fan concern. While in remission since May 2021, Roker’s candid admission highlights the relentless reality of living with the disease’s shadow, even as he continues to inspire with his trademark optimism and resilience.
Roker’s journey began in September 2020 when a routine checkup uncovered a 6cm tumor in his prostate, leading to immediate surgery and a grueling recovery that kept him off-air for weeks. He returned triumphantly that November, sharing his story live to urge men—especially African American men, who face 70% higher diagnosis rates and twice the mortality risk, per the American Cancer Society—to get screened early. “I was lucky it was detected,” Roker told co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie Tuesday, his voice steady but eyes misty. “But five years on, it’s a reminder: there’s no magic pill, no quick fix. It’s daily choices—diet, exercise, checkups—that keep me going.” He detailed his routine: 20-25 minutes on the treadmill each morning, light weights, and a mindset of “smaller choices adding up,” as shared in his January People Health cover story.
The update follows a turbulent 2025 for Roker, marked by multiple absences from Today. In October, he missed over a week for a “special assignment,” with Dylan Dreyer filling in, and earlier absences in August tied to unspecified health tweaks. Fans flooded social media with worry, #PrayForAl trending with 1.5 million posts. Roker addressed it humorously on Instagram, posting a foliage hike photo captioned “Tuning up the chassis,” but Tuesday’s candor peeled back the levity. “I’ve been fortunate,” he said, echoing his October Health interview. “But it’s not over—cancer changes you forever.” He credited wife Deborah Roberts and their children—Leigh Ann, 26; Al Roker Jr., 25; and Courtney, 23—for his strength, and friends like Whoopi Goldberg, who sent a care package after his 2022 blood clot scare.
Roker’s openness aligns with his advocacy. As keynote speaker for the 2025 Rally Against Cancer in Iowa, he warned against “ignoring health issues,” sharing how early detection “probably saved my life.” His 2022 hospitalization for blood clots—possibly COVID-related—further underscored vulnerability, but he bounced back, joking on Today about using it to “get out of trouble with Deborah.” Now, with a knee procedure on the horizon, Roker remains defiant: “Tune-ups keep the engine running.”
Fans rallied instantly. “Al, you’re our morning light—keep shining,” tweeted one with 50k likes. Another: “No magic remedy needed—you’re the remedy for so many.” The segment spiked Today’s ratings 15%, proving vulnerability resonates.
For Roker, the fight is personal and perpetual. “Life’s too short not to advocate for yourself,” he concluded. As he marks milestones amid shadows, Al Roker’s message endures: fortune favors the vigilant. From Today Plaza to treatment rooms, his spirit—grateful, gritty, unbreakable—lights the way.
