Howard Stern has publicly described a kidney-cancer scare, years of back pain, psychotherapy and OCD-related behavior, and a bout of COVID-19. Those accounts do not establish that he had kidney cancer, provide a complete medical history, or show his current health.
What happened with Howard Stern’s kidney-cancer scare?
In a 2019 interview with CBS News, Stern recalled that a doctor told him there was a “95% chance” a suspicious kidney finding was cancer. He said surgery was arranged and that the possibility frightened him. He described the experience as something that “rocked” him and prompted thoughts about mortality. CBS News’ May 12, 2019 extended transcript records Stern’s account.
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The 95% figure was Stern’s recollection of what a doctor told him about that particular finding. It is not a population statistic, and the available accounts do not establish a confirmed kidney-cancer diagnosis. NPR’s Fresh Air also recounted the scare in a May 2019 interview excerpt. WBEZ / NPR Fresh Air’s report likewise does not turn the scare into a confirmed diagnosis.
What has Stern said about back pain?
Stern said he suffered from back pain for many years and credited physician John Sarno with helping him. In a June 26, 2017 account, Stern said, “I suffered horribly from back pain for many years … and he really saved my life.” The Howard Stern Show identified Sarno and his book, Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection, in its report on Stern’s remembrance of Sarno.
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This is Stern’s description of his own experience, not evidence that Sarno’s approach or book works for everyone. It should not be treated as medical advice.
What has he said about psychotherapy and OCD-related behavior?
In the 2019 CBS interview, Stern said he had entered psychotherapy and was still attending at the time. He also described behavior he associated with OCD, including aspects of his routine, and said he was working on it. These are his public self-descriptions in that interview, not an independent clinical assessment or evidence of his current symptoms. The account appears in the same CBS News transcript.
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What did Stern disclose about COVID-19?
On January 8, 2024, The Howard Stern Show reported that Stern told listeners he had COVID-19 over a break from the program. He said he had been very ill and bedridden while recovering: “Man, I went through hell … I’ve really never been this sick.” The show’s report describes his account of that illness, but does not report a lasting complication or establish his health afterward.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about Stern’s health now?
The public accounts cited here document what Stern said about several past experiences; they do not provide a complete medical history or establish his current health. A diagnosis, lasting condition, or present-day symptom should not be inferred from a past scare, a personal account of treatment, or a period away from the show.
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