He Preached Early Detection; Then It Saved His Life

For decades, New York Giants Legend Harry Carson has been a formidable force. On the football field, the Hall of Fame linebacker was known for his relentless pursuit and bone-jarring tackles. Off the field, he channeled that same intensity into a different kind of fight: advocating for men's health and the life-saving power of early cancer screening.

For years, in partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health, Carson has been the face of this cause, urging men to create a "game plan for better health." He never knew that the very playbook he championed would one day be the one to save his own life.

Earlier this year, Carson, who has been vigilant about his annual check-ups for thirty years, went in for a routine screening. The results showed his Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) level had jumped. He immediately turned to his longtime friend and colleague, Michael D. Stifelman, M.D., chair of Urology at Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC).

“Harry has been a passionate advocate for screening since he was 39,” said Dr. Stifelman. “Because he was so proactive and not afraid to get checked, we caught this early, before it had a chance to grow or spread.”

Dr. Stifelman’s team repeated the test and proceeded with an MRI, which revealed an area that required further investigation. The next step was a transperineal MRI fusion biopsy—the newest, safest, and most effective technique available. The state-of-the-art procedure combines detailed MRI scans with live ultrasound, allowing urologists to precisely target suspicious tissue while significantly reducing infection risk.

The results confirmed a diagnosis of intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

Using a shared decision-making model, Dr. Stifelman and Carson reviewed all the options. Given Carson’s age and excellent health, they decided the best course of action was to surgically remove the prostate. Carson underwent a robotic single-port (SP) prostatectomy, a cutting-edge procedure performed at HUMC. Unlike traditional multi-port robotic surgeries that require several incisions, the single-port system allows the entire operation to be performed through a single, small incision below the belly button.

“This approach provides direct access to the prostate, resulting in less trauma to surrounding organs, a faster procedure, and a quicker recovery for the patient,” explained Dr. Stifelman. “It is the next wave in prostate cancer surgery.”

Carson’s surgery was a textbook success, completed in under two hours with no significant blood loss. During the procedure, the team performed a critical frozen section analysis. While Carson was still in the operating room, pathologists examined the tissue margins where the prostate had been removed. The real-time results confirmed "clean margins," meaning all the cancer had been successfully excised while preserving crucial functions.

Today, Harry Carson is considered cancer-free with an excellent prognosis. Because the cancer was caught early and the surgery was so successful, no follow-up chemotherapy or radiation is needed.

“This will not bring Harry Carson down,” Dr. Stifelman stated confidently.

Carson’s personal battle has only fueled his public mission. His story became a powerful centerpiece at Hackensack Meridian Health’s Annual Men’s Health Event on Saturday, September 20. Held at the Hackensack Civic Center during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the event drew nearly 200 people from across the tri-state area for free health screenings.

Carson participated in a panel discussion, his words carrying a new, profound weight.

“It is truly my honor to be here today to help our community create a game plan for better health,” Carson told the crowd. “Back in the day my teammates and I were young, strong and overall healthy men, and we were not concerned about getting cancer. But the truth is that all men are at risk.”

He emphasized a stark reality: “Early prostate cancer does not typically cause symptoms: a man won’t know whether he has it without a test, but sadly so many men drop the ball by skipping screenings—especially Black men, who have the world's highest incidence of prostate cancer.”

The event, coordinated by John Theurer Cancer Center’s Community Outreach & Engagement team, provided screenings for prostate cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and more, thanks to collaborators like Quest Diagnostics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai, City of Hackensack, Becton Dickinson, and Man Cave Health.

“Men don’t always prioritize their well-being,” said Dr. Stifelman at the event. “By offering free health screenings, we're empowering men to take control of their health and catch potential issues early.”

The key message from Carson’s journey is undeniable. “Don't be afraid of what you might find,” Dr. Stifelman urged. “Many men have a ‘superman’ complex, but what you don't know can hurt you. With the incredible advances in medicine and technology today, there is very little we can't handle when we find it early. Harry's story is a testament to that.”

To hear Harry Carson tell his powerful story in his own words, alongside his family, click here to watch the video.

The next chapter in his inspiring journey will unfold on a familiar stage. On September 28, Harry Carson and Dr. Michael Stifelman will attend the Giants Crucial Catch game, where the NFL promotes cancer prevention. In a moving ceremony, Harry will ring a bell on the field—a tradition celebrating a recovery milestone—with his surgeon proudly by his side. It will be a fitting tribute to a champion who tackled his toughest opponent yet and won.