Travel Guide Rick Steves Shares Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Rick Steves, the travel writer at the helm of popular guidebooks, TV programming and radio shows, announced on Thursday he has prostate cancer.

Steves wrote on social media that scans revealed his cancer has not spread and that “there is a clear path forward to getting healthy.”

He will finish filming two new TV shows in France this month, before returning home to Washington state for surgery.

“I’ll likely get my surgery in late September, be laid up for a month, and — God willing — be cancer-free and back at it by the end of October,” Steves, 69, continued in his message. “I have great trust in my doctor and in Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. And I have lots more to be thankful for…including the support of friends and loved ones and a strong faith that I’m in good hands.”

Steves, who said he has never spent a night in the hospital, added that he’s approaching the operation “almost like it’s some amazing, really important trip.”

“I feel good about my positive attitude,” he continued. “And I expect to take home some delightful, if intangible, souvenirs like: appreciating and seeing a vibrancy in the little things; appreciating the goodness in people and the treasure of friends and family; being wowed by modern medicine and the army of amazing, smart, and dedicated people that make it possible; appreciating what a blessing life, health, and this world to enjoy is; and — just in general — being more thankful.”

He concluded his message by saying he is “looking forward to many more years of happy travels, exciting collaborations, and beautiful friendships.”

Steves is well-known as the name behind dozens of travel guidebooks exploring Europe. Since 2000, he has hosted the TV program Rick Steves’ Europe and also leads the radio show and podcast, Travel with Rick Steves.