Between his nearly 15 years as a Philadelphia city councilmember (from 1992 to 2006) and two terms as mayor (from 2008 to 2016), Michael A. Nutter helped expand the smoking ban to more public buildings, decrease homicides by around 30%, launch a low-income friendly bike share system, increase high school graduation and college degree attainment rates, raise Philadelphia’s credit rating to an “A” for the first time since the 1979, and establish Cities United with former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu to combat violence and crime among Black men and boys across the nation. And that is only some of his achievements while in office. Nutter’s list of accomplishments is just as long since his time as mayor came to an end—and he achieved much of it while weighed down by the looming threat of prostate cancer.
In 2016, a routine PSA test was high enough to warrant concern from his primary care physician who encouraged Nutter to seek out a urologist. Results from a biopsy, ultrasound, CAT scan, and bone scan revealed a nonaggressive tumor on his prostate, which his urologist said could be treated with surgery or radiation right away or continue to be monitored with frequent PSA tests and follow-up biopsies; otherwise known as active surveillance. Nutter opted for active surveillance.
“I just wasn’t ready. I wasn’t mentally ready. I don’t think I was life-wise ready,” Nutter told Cancer Research Catalyst. “In my mind, I concocted this idea that I’m going to be out of work for weeks or I won’t be able to do anything at all. I had all these old ideas about the reality of laparoscopic robotic surgery, which is very, very different than cutting your belly half open or something. My thinking was old and backwards, and so I was acting old and backwards.”
It wasn’t until he ended up in the hospital in the fall of 2020 for an emergency appendectomy that he decided it was finally time to do something about the prostate cancer. He underwent a prostatectomy that December and has been doing well ever since. His experience inspired him to share his story, work with nonprofits and advocacy groups like ZERO Prostate Cancer, and shine a light on the disparities related to prostate cancer and Black men, who have higher incidence and death rates of this disease compared to all other races.
“I want to be the kind of advocate who uses whatever platform I might have to highlight this particular issue,” Nutter said. “I consider it a continuation of my public service.”
On October 27, 2024, Nutter is being honored with a humanitarian award for both his prostate cancer advocacy work and years of dedication to bettering the city and communities at the 21st Annual Party with a Purpose gala. Hosted by the Friends of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Foundation, this annual event helps raise funds for cancer research with this year’s proceeds going toward aging and cancer survivorship.
Prior to the event, Cancer Research Catalyst spoke with Nutter about his experience as a prostate cancer survivor, his accomplishments in public office, and what he hopes to achieve next.
As you look back on your experience with prostate cancer, what do you feel is the most important thing you learned?
Nutter: Talk to your family. That was a huge mistake that I made. I waited too long to have a conversation with my family. Whether it was out of fear, uncertainty, insecurity, or any number of issues—it was a big mistake that I made.
Also, I would emphasize the importance of getting screened and having regular conversations with your doctor about your health issues. And if something is going on or if your numbers are not where they should be, then I encourage folks to take corrective action as quickly as you can. You can’t go out and save the world or enjoy time with your family if you’re laid up in a hospital or if you’re dead. You can’t be too busy to take care of yourself.
What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to have that same discussion about their cancer with their family?
Nutter: I would gently say that sometimes we just have to get over ourselves. It’s not about how you feel necessarily. It’s about the impact that it’s going to have on your family. If it’s frightening to you, it’s going to be that much more frightening to them, but you’ve got to come to terms with it.
You have previously spoken about the disparities in prostate cancer for Black men. What is your message specifically for other Black men?
Nutter: Know your number. Based on their family history, Black men should probably start screening for prostate cancer at about 40 to 45. But everybody should be screened at 55. It is also important to point out that while Black men are disproportionately prone to have prostate cancer, survival outcomes are much better when diagnosed early. So again, the key is early detection.
As a former politician, do you think there are any public policy issues that should be addressed to help boost cancer screenings on a larger scale?
Nutter: One of the keys is a massive public awareness campaign that generates conversation between loved ones, spouses, significant others, whatever the case may be, to help push men to take better care of themselves. Men, in particular, have an amazing ability to ignore just about anything going on with our health because often we just don’t want to deal with it.
Nutter: It’s the thing I’m proudest of because I know that we save people’s lives. I started working on that in 2000, so it has been 24 years. It’s hard to imagine anyone today smoking in a restaurant, whereas less than 25 years ago that was the norm. But I know many people stopped smoking as a result. It became not only a cause, but a movement.
As a Prostate cancer survivor, how has that impacted your view of health?
Nutter: It certainly made me much more aware. I’ve been paying much closer attention to what I’m eating, how much I exercise, all of those things. Having cancer is frightening, but it doesn’t have to be debilitating. We have to summon up some amount of fighting spirit. I know I’m not going to live forever, but for as long as I’m living, I want to have a good quality of life—and I’m going to fight for that.
What are you most passionate about in terms of the work you are currently doing?
Nutter: I really love teaching. I’m a professor of practice in urban and public affairs at Columbia University. I also have a fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania at the School of Social Policy & Practice and I’m working to create a center for public service and policy. We’re utilizing data from another component of this work called the Philadelphia Economic Equity Project. It’s a longitudinal research study trying to better understand hardship.
Most folks talk about poverty. That’s one measure. But many people who are not in poverty, at least by the government measurement, may still be experiencing economic hardship because of other family issues or dynamics. Economic hardships also have different levels of impact on health outcomes. For instance, you’re probably not going to all your doctor’s visits and your anxiety may be creating health issues in and of themselves.
I want to use the data to help inform the pipeline of future elected executives as well as provide them with insights from former executives. Ultimately, the goal is to help shape and affect public policy.
