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On TODAY Monday, James Michael Tyler, the actor who played satirical coffee shop employee Gunter in “Friends,” opened up about his struggle with prostate cancer since his diagnosis in September 2018.
Tyler told TODAY’s Craig Melvin that the disease was not detected early and has progressed to other parts of his body.
“I was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, which has spread to my bones,” Tyler explained. “I’ve been dealing with this diagnosis for the past three years or so…it’s stage IV (now). Late stage cancer. So eventually, you know, it will probably strike me.”
Tyler said the disease was first discovered during an annual screening.
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“I was 56 at the time, and they had a PSA scan, which is prostate-specific antigen,” Tyler explained. “It came back with an unusual number… So I knew right away when I went online and saw the results of the blood test and blood test that there was clearly something wrong there. Almost immediately, my doctor called me and said ‘Hey, I want you to come tomorrow because I think You may have a serious prostate problem.”
James Michael Tyler is currently in the treatment of stage IV prostate cancer. He hopes by sharing his story that he can save at least one life. James Michael Tyler
After additional testing, Tyler was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. He was referred to Dr. Matthew Rettig, a research scientist and oncologist at UCLA, who was able to use genetic testing to help Tyler determine that the disease is genetic rather than environmental.
Tyler embarked on hormone therapy, which he said had “worked amazingly for about a year”, allowing him to “give up his life regularly” while on a three-drug regimen.
“All I had to do was take a pill in the morning and night, and boom, life was pretty much normal,” Tyler said, noting that he showed up on TODAY during that time in order to meet other “friends.” “…I had that time, but (I was) able to function normally… I was feeling healthy, honestly. I had no symptoms, no symptoms. And it was very easy to regulate.”
While the early days were optimistic, Tyler said the cancer eventually spread to his bones and spine, resulting in hemiplegia, or paralysis of the lower body. Tyler said the cancer mutated “at the time of the epidemic.”
“I missed going for the test, and that wasn’t a good thing,” Tyler said. “So the cancer decided to mutate at the time of an epidemic, and that’s how it progressed.”
Tyler said he is currently undergoing chemotherapy, which is fighting cancer “robustly.” However, he wanted to stress that screening and early diagnosis can lead to a much better prognosis.
“There are other options available to men if they catch it before me,” Tyler said. “Next time you go for a basic check-up or an annual check-up, please ask your doctor for a PSA test. It can be easily detected. … If it has spread beyond the prostate to the bone, which is more prevalent in my form, it can be much more difficult to deal with. “.
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“Men of any age can have a PSA scan,” Tyler’s oncologist, Rettig, told TODAY. “The idea of PSA screening is to identify cancer and diagnose prostate cancer at an early stage before it has spread, when it is curable with things like surgery or radiation.”
Screening recommendations vary: The Prostate Cancer Foundation recommends that men at higher risk such as black men or men with a family history of cancer be screened by age 40; The organization recommends that men discuss screening with their doctor starting at age 45. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men ages 55 to 69 talk to their doctors about PSA screenings. The American Cancer Society recommends men at average risk start talking with their doctor at age 50; Advice for high-risk men varies. It is important to know your family history and discuss it with your doctor.
“A lot of men, if they catch this early on, are easily treatable,” Tyler stressed. “I don’t want people to go through what I went through. This is not…an easy process.”
Tyler said illness prevented him from appearing in person at the “Friends” meetup that aired on HBO Max in late May. Instead, he appeared on Zoom.
“I wanted to be a part of that, and initially I would be on stage, at least, with them, and be able to take part in all the festivities,” Tyler said. “It was bittersweet, honestly. I was so happy to be included. It was my decision to not be a part of that physically and show on Zoom, basically, because I didn’t want to put him down, you know?…I didn’t want to be like , “Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer.”
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Tyler said he enjoyed the opportunity to make his appearance “glamorous” and “connect with” the actors again. Several of his castmates are aware of his illness, as are the show’s producers, and have been supportive of him.
Now his goal, he added, is to encourage people to get tested, hoping to “save just one life” with his message.
“That’s the only reason I’ve come out this way and let people know,” Tyler explained. “This is my new role.”
Tyler said that during the process, he was surrounded by an “extraordinary” support group with a lot of “people praying” for his health. He said he uses his “sense of humor” to cope, and sets realistic goals to help him get through each day.
“It personally made me realize how important every moment, every day,” Tyler said. And fight. Don’t give up. Keep fighting. Make yourself as light as possible. Have goals. Set goals. My goal last year was to see my 59th birthday. I did, on May 28. My goal now is to help save one life. At least by spreading this news.”
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