Very uplifting and encouraging to cancer sufferers. Good information and humor and humanity.

Refreshingly honest exploration of an uncomfortable topic -- this podcast is for everyone who knows anyone with a prostate. My husband and I binge-listened together. Somehow it felt reassuring to hear this man's experience surviving treatment for prostate cancer. His interviews with doctors, the anecdotes and reflections spoken by supportive family and friends, his candid talk with other patients and of course his own deeply personal story woven with humor and brutal truth into each episode all served to disarm what can feel like looming disaster when doc delivers disheartening test results. This podcast is sobering, encouraging, informative and comforting all at once. Listen!

I was diagnosed April 4th 2023. My journey has been almost identical with the exception of the fact that my PSA was elevated after my surgery and they found metastatic involvement on my L5 vertebrae. So along with the radiation to the pelvis and prostate bed, I also had SBRT on my spine. I have done it all at Dana Farber as well. Your description of everything is spot on -including the scanxiety . Oh, and I have been on androgen deprivation therapy for 13 months. I have to be on it for two years.

The- no, your- brutal honesty, sense of humor, and your family’s love made your discussions about prostate cancer a celebration for the human spirit. A year after his prostatectomy now revealing a .1 PSA, my husband’s medical team is readying him for what you went through. Will share your podcasts. Thank you. This is good stuff.

He went all over in order to discover good content about Prostate cancer. He had awful luck. He also introduced me to fascinating people. I feel like I know Dr Walsh from Johns Hopkins, the marvelous man who invented some brilliant surgical techniques. Also, he educated me on the horrible statistics for Black men and this cancer. I can tell you- as a well educated woman - this is mind blowing.

Why isn’t this at top of the charts? It’s well narrated, topical, informative and engaging. I stumbled upon it from a different podcast. Highly recommended.

Fun story and good storytelling but those aren't why I listened - I wanted to learn. Cool music though. But also I wasn't listening for the music.

I was searching for 80’s music when I found Mr. 80%. The purpose is to educate people like me who know nothing about it, about the prostate and prostate cancer. I never knew I’d enjoy learning about this subject matter. Great job!

Listening to this was almost like listening to someone telling my journey, as I went through every single event and process Mark went through. Prostatectomy, hormone shot, radiation. Thanks for getting this topic “out there” for guys who either don’t know about it or are too scared to listen. It’s real bit there is life after prostate cancer.

Jovial music. Light hearted discussion with funny twists. Isn't prostate cancer just hilarious! This podcaster apparently thinks so. I was recently diagnosed and this morning had a bone biopsy because it may have spread. I might die from metastasized prostate cancer b/c my doctor was not giving me regular PSA tests. What could possibly be funnier than that. Best case I am looking at a year of incontinence, 50/50 likely lifetime impotence and a curtailed life span. Thats if I am lucky. I was so looking forward to a serious discussion and set of anecdotes that might inspire and educate. Instead we get a comedy routine. Suggestion to the podcaster. Do a fresh edit. Lose the jovial music. Take the disease seriously. It mains and kills.

Thank you! My husband had a similar diagnosis to Mark’s almost 10 years ago. We are on the other side, but this will be helpful to anyone going through a prostrate cancer diagnosis, the patient and the support team! I highly recommend it.

I really enjoyed your podcast series describing your long and eventful cancer story. I think this is the norm for prostate cancer. I am also a prostate cancer survivor but I have experienced a relapse with metastases. My myriad of treatments have been constant since 2017. The side effects are more severe than your description, unfortunately. Thank you for sharing your journey! And I wish you continued health! Your podcast was very well done with both humor and medical information. It gave me a a few chuckles. It also gave me some thoughts about how to talk to my children about my condition. Thank you again.

This was such a wonderfully told story. Thank you for sharing. So glad for your continued good health and spirit.

Just finished the whole series and was glad I did. My wife and I have overdeveloped sarcastic senses of humor ( may be Irish blood) and appreciated the irreverent context. I have heard that humor has healing benefits. I was really relating to the build up fear factor when it’s time for my quarterly PSA. I’m usually thinking is the jury back yet and am I getting a death sentence. Keep up this important work.

I really enjoyed your podcast! I had a prostatectomy last year and experienced many of the same situations and feelings you described. Fortunately I did not require additional treatments but things have changed for sure. Your insights made me laugh at times and sad at other times. Thanks for sharing your story and putting into words what so many of us have been feeling.

As a prostate cancer survivor this podcast shares such a personal and insightful story of what going through this can be like If you know someone that has prostate cancer or if you have it this is worth every minute!

Insightful, bold, selfless ... shares his experience in a way that those who have been through a similar experiance can relate. Share listening with famaily and friends at any stage of your journey to prepare everyone for what it is like to deal with this scourge. Thanks!

Thank you. I have such a better understanding of what men are going through. Very important.

This was a great podcast. I’m 6 months post surgery and while I didn’t go through everything Mark went through, the similarities were shocking but important to hear. There isn’t much frank conversation about prostate cancer, with an occasional lightheartedness out there. There also isn’t any information I’ve found about how it effects you emotionally. Makes you question what being a man is all about. Mark talks about it in the podcast. I’ve been recommending this podcast to many. Thanks!

I came away knowing much more than I knew before. And I laughed. The host/narrator is fun to be with... lots of wry humor and cultural references that resonate. Smart and funny. Who knew prostate cancer could be interesting and that it could be discussed with both seriousness and humor. It takes a brave person to do this and an honest one pull it off.

Hilarious and harrowing, brutal and uncomfortably honest. All of this while delivering a sorely needed and digestible treatise on prostate cancer. Mark’s voice and delivery hook you and won’t let go. Terrific writing and production values too. Well done and thank you.

Mr 80 percent is both hilarious and troubling. I went in for the laughs and came out knowing a lot more about this insidious killer of men. A podcast in which the jokes amplify, never detract, from the emotional power of the subject

I have laughed, cried and wonder where my treatment will take me. Mark's podcast will hopefully prepare me try and avoid some of the pitfalls. At some point you're going to know someone who is affected. This podcast will enlighten you. Thanks Mark.

Great series! I’ve sent it to my sons were both in our 40s! Serious , funny and informative really really helpful. You never mention the Doctor Who inserted the penile implant. Interested.

Touching, educational, hilarious, warm...Everything a heavy topic like this needs to be. Love it!

I enjoyed this podcast and your article. However, your comment that the fellow with the penile implant was "finally" able to make love once he could have an erection does such a disservice to men with ED and perpetuates a rather sexist view of making love. You do not need an erection to make love. What does "making love" really mean? It means exquisite and soulful intimacy. I have ED and make love to my wife and she makes love to me.

My youngest brother sent me this link. He also spoke w/Dr Walsh. He also Received the terrible phone call telling him that not all of the cancer had been removed. He too, sees many of the same doctors at Dana Farber, for radiation and hormone therapy. I have followed his journey and know that his diagnosis affects his entire family; His wife, his teenage kids, and me. This clarified so many of the challenges he has, and is, facing. You have provided A clear, frightening and funny roadmap for all of us. Thank you!

I wish this was available to me when I went through the same thing. Puts everything in perspective and is actually a fun listen.

My dad recommended I listen to this podcast and I’m so glad I did!

Excellent medical information with a personal and poignant story shared by Mark Shanahan his family, friends, medical team and urology experts along with a bit of humor, pure emotion, tears, heartbreak and important scientific and medical care. Thanks to Mark and to The Boston Globe !

The podcast is a great idea. The scientific/medical information is extremely useful. Clearly men have to openly talk about their diagnosis and their fear of treatment side effects in order to be informed and comforted. It has and remains helpful to me and those I am open with. I rate the podcast as 4 star in large part due to the waste of air time in episode 2. Detailing a libido revival before diagnosis could have been summed up in one sentence. The rambling excessive time spent detailing it seemed self indulgent and cheapened the discussion. As an advanced metastatic PC patient who has been through every possible treatment, I Applaud the author for this relevant and important source of information and comfort. I look forward to the remaining episodes. Respectfully Larry (age 67 diagnosed 5 years ago)

Very funny, honest and entertaining! Great work!

Brilliant, funny and informative.

Mark makes listening about prostate cancer enjoyable and interesting, surprisingly. I’m enjoying this podcast and am interested in reading some of his other work.

Great topic. Really funny. Kind of like a snuff film.

Thank you for the insights

The combination of useful information and clever presentation is really a rousing experience! Hopefully, this approach will help bring this important topic the attention it deserves. I even came to like Shanahan’s voice!

Listen because it will impact you one day, whether personally, family, or friends.

Love this podcast !! Really heartfelt, funny, and smart.

Good music good pacing important and funny

I went through the prostate cancer drama in 2016. I would love to hear the remaining episodes.

Like the music choice. Keeps it from sounding too morose. Well written, too!

Good to get an “embarrassing” topic out in the open. What you don’t know can kill you. I’m a woman & I’m subscribing, because I know some males who likely won’t listen to this podcast.

So looking forward to this!

Great topic but the Globe leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.

I’m the first person to review this. Yay!