John Tesh was told he had 18 months to live over a decade ago.
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The composer and former host of Entertainment Tonight was diagnosed with stage 3 prostate cancer in 2015. His doctors were concerned that the tumors were inoperable, so they gave him only a year and a half to live.
Despite this devastating prognosis, Tesh has continued to defy the odds. He recently opened up about his ongoing battle with cancer and about the one person who has helped him fight it.
John Tesh Has a Rare Form of Cancer
The 73-year-old Tesh has been in and out of cancer treatment for over 10 years. He recently told Page Six that he's "still fighting it."
The rare form of prostate cancer he has has spread. While the musician is never fully in remission, doctors say it is stable. Tesh stays optimistic, though the realization that his cancer may never go away can be challenging.
"They will let it grow for a little bit and then get me back on treatment, back and forth," he said. "It's called pulsing, and it's scary until you get used to it."
Tesh Credits One Person With Saving His Life
Tesh has been married to actress Connie Sellecca for 34 years. She is best known for her roles on the television dramas Hotel and The Greatest American Hero.
He credits her with helping him survive this long and with being his emotional support through some harrowing moments. She has pushed doctors to treat her husband and helped steer him through the complex medical system.
"Without my wife Connie, who has been my advocate over the years, I wouldn't be talking," he said. "I'd be dead. I would have been dead in 2015."
While most people recognize Tesh for his work on Entertainment Tonight, he shifted in his career path in 1996. He left the small screen to focus on his music career. Selling millions of albums and earning multiple Grammy nominations, he is perhaps best known for "Roundball Rock," the theme for NBA on NBC.
In addition to their individual successes, Sellecca and Tesh are also the co-hosts of the nationally syndicated radio program Intelligence for Your Life. It's a mix of motivational advice, factoids for personal growth, and fun conversation starters.
