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.

“Those of us who specialize in prostate cancer found it a bit mysterious when his diagnosis was announced,” Dr. Eggener commented. “Although I don’t know the details of his case, it seems likely that he had promising scan results and perhaps encouraging blood tests. Generally, however, metastatic prostate cancer is not considered 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.