Ryne Sandberg died after he was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in January 2024.

CHICAGO (WLS) — Ryne “Ryno” Sandberg announced he was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in January 2024.

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Unfortunately, in Sandberg’s case, it appeared he discovered the cancer when it was no longer curable.

Doctors now reminding men to get screened early, especially for those with a family history of prostate, breast, ovarian or pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Scott Eggener, a professor of surgery at the University of Chicago, said prostate cancer can be cured if caught early enough.

Men should start screening as early as their 40s.

After undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Sandberg said he was improving, but months later, the cancer returned.

“It was a bit mysterious to those of us that have expertise in prostate cancer based on it was announced as his diagnosis,” Dr. Eggener said. “I don’t know the specifics of his situation, though I anticipate he had a good scan and maybe some good bloodwork, but for the most part people with metastatic prostate cancer are not curable.

“It’s a chronic disease,” he added. “It can be managed for a period of time, but it almost always leads to death from the disease.”

Doctors say there has been a lot of progress as far as diagnosing, managing, and treating prostate cancer over the last decade.

Among the advanced include new medications, techniques and approaches to improving longevity and the quality of life for men with prostate cancer.

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