John Tesh knows that picking up the telephone can change your life. One such moment? When, in the absence of a recorder, he called home from commentating the 1989 Tour de France to sing the inspiration for what would later become NBC’s NBA theme song “Roundball Rock” into his own voicemail.
This willingness to not only pick up when opportunity calls but to reach out himself has been a hallmark of John’s genre-defying career. That’s why, to some, he is best known as a radio host. To others, the WCBS anchor. Maybe you know him from his “Entertainment Tonight” days, bouncing quips back and forth with Mary Hart. Perhaps you’ve watched his Red Rocks concert-turned-PBS special. You’ve almost certainly had the infectious chords of “Roundball Rock” stuck in your head — maybe you’re even humming it now.
But it was John’s wife, actress Connie Sellecca, who picked up the phone to call MD Anderson in 2017. This decision ultimately enabled him to carry on his life’s work after a devastating prostate cancer diagnosis.
“MD Anderson helped save my life,” he says.
An overdue physical leads to a prostate cancer diagnosis
In 2015, John was touring as a musician while hosting his radio show. He and Connie had just become second-time grandparents and had spent weeks away from their Los Angeles home helping her mother through a health crisis. As a result, he was about six months overdue by the time he made it to his routine physical that year.
At 63, John was the same age his father had been when he died of lung cancer, so cancer was always at the back of his mind. His prostate-specific antigen (PSA) numbers at the appointment weren’t much higher than normal, but his physician felt something suspicious during a digital rectal exam. This prompted a visit to a urologist, followed by a sonogram, then a biopsy. The resulting diagnosis left John terrified: he had stage III prostate cancer. His urologist said the tumors may be inoperable and that he may have only 18 months to live.
His doctor recommended getting his affairs in order. Instead, John began reading, researching and reaching out to clinicians, finally finding an expert who was confident he could perform surgery.
That August, John underwent a radical prostatectomy. The surgery itself was a success. But during recovery, he suffered an intestinal blockage that was treated with a nasogastric tube. The experience was so gruesome, he recalls telling Connie he didn’t want to keep living.
By 2017, cancer seemed to finally be in his rearview mirror. Then, an MRI scan showed cancer had spread to the lymph nodes in his pelvis.
Finding expertise at MD Anderson
The search for a leading prostate cancer expert led John and Connie to MD Anderson’s Christopher Logothetis, M.D. His recommendation? Robotic surgery to remove the suspicious lymph nodes under the care of Brian Chapin, M.D.
This surgery revealed that John’s cancer had indeed spread to his lymph nodes. He received four rounds of chemotherapy followed by a type of hormone therapy called androgen deprivation therapy.
Chemotherapy caused intense nausea, while hormone therapy caused weight loss, muscle loss and fatigue. Still, John and Connie pushed through, leaning on their faith and the power of prayer as outlined in a favorite Bible verse.
Following his care in 2017, John traveled to MD Anderson every 3 months for follow-up appointments, which included a CT scan, MRI and bone scan. On his third visit, a scan showed two suspicious lymph nodes in his pelvis. Once again, the cancer may have spread.
Now, John and Connie faced another difficult decision: whether to pursue radiation therapy. But after meeting with a radiation oncologist in California, John decided against radiation therapy. Instead, he continues to monitor disease progression with his doctors at MD Anderson.
Sharing his story
Ten years after he was given 18 months to live, John is staying busy.
In August, he released his first original album in more than 20 years. Along with instrumental songs inspired by the athletic action he’s seen play out over his commentating career, the album also includes a new, shredded version of “Roundball Rock,” the original version of which returned to television alongside NBC’s NBA coverage in October.
Alongside Connie, he continues to share health and wellness tips with listeners of their daily radio program. And, he has detailed his life, cancer treatment and faith in his autobiography. Mentioned in the acknowledgements of his book? His MD Anderson care team, including Logothetis, Chapin, advanced practice provider manager Claudette Mendoza, care consultant Alycia Hughes, and the “incredible nurses and staff at MD Anderson.”
“The team at MD Anderson was by our side throughout my journey, and we are grateful for the care I received that is truly only possible here,” he says.
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