When Rod Stewart received a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2017, he and his wife Penny Lancaster chose to keep the news private while awaiting further tests.
The secrecy and uncertainty took a significant emotional toll on Penny, who later revealed the impact in her memoir.
Penny describes the diagnosis as an intensely stressful period.
Doctors told the couple the tumor was aggressive, yet Rod remained determined to stay upbeat and even started planning tour dates while still recovering in hospital.
The singer fought the illness for about two years and was declared cancer-free in July 2019.
Since then he has focused on staying healthy with good diet, regular exercise and frequent medical check-ups.
In her book, Someone Like Me, Penny recalls a tender moment after the scare when Rod promised her two more decades together.
That vow became one of the intimate memories she shared about how the couple coped.
Keeping the situation under wraps proved especially hard for Penny.
She says the waiting and worry deepened her depression and eventually led her to seek professional help and begin medication.
Penny credits those steps with helping her get through the crisis, calling the treatment a vital support during a dark time.
She also opened up about Rod's attitude toward mortality, saying he accepts the end with humour and wants to go out surrounded by joy.
The episode gave the couple a renewed appreciation for life and each other.
Penny’s candid account sheds light on the hidden emotional strain families endure when a loved one faces serious illness.
