In an interview, Rod shared his experience overcoming thyroid cancer. The surgery was quick and painless, but it left him unable to sing. “They hack through your throat and pull all your muscles apart,” he explained. Regaining his voice took six months of dedicated effort.

He described the shock of his diagnosis but noted his cancer was slow-growing and successfully removed. Reflecting on the experience, he said it made him reassess life, admitting he felt “afraid and vulnerable” in a way he hadn’t before. Fortunately, chemotherapy wasn’t needed, sparing him hair loss—a professional concern second only to losing his voice.

Rod announced he was also successfully treated for prostate cancer after an early diagnosis. Speaking at a Prostate Project benefit, he urged men to get checked, saying, “Catching it early saved my life.” Now cancer-free, Rod continues to inspire with his resilience and gratitude.