Travel Host Rick Steves Says He's 'Home' After a 'Successful Surgery' Following His Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

“Since I was first diagnosed, I’ve thought of cancer as the latest adventure in a lifetime of travels,” the author wrote on X

• Rick Steves gave an update on his cancer journey on Tuesday, Oct. 8

• Steves revealed back in August that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer

• The travel writer and TV host revealed his surgery was successful with 'no sign of any spread'
  

Rick Steves is sharing an update on his health following his prostate cancer diagnosis in August.

On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the travel writer and TV host, 69, updated his followers about his recent surgery to have his prostate removed in a lengthy post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

"Thanks for all the support since I first told you about my prostate cancer diagnosis,” Steves wrote. “I promised you an update when I shared this news back in August — and I’m happy to say that I’m home now after successful surgery and a night in the hospital. (Packing light for my homecoming, I left my prostate there.)"

The Rick Steves' Europe host previously revealed that he had never spent a night in the hospital prior to his diagnosis, but the veteran traveler assured his readers that he was looking at the experience as another "amazing trip" at the time.

In his most recent update, he once again compared his diagnosis to an adventure.

“Since I was first diagnosed, I’ve thought of cancer as the latest adventure in a lifetime of travels,” he continued. “And like always, I’m excited to share a trip report with you.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Related: Queen Camilla Gives Rare Update on King Charles' Health amid His Cancer Treatment

Steves explained that a “blood draw to screen for prostate” revealed that he had a PSA score of 55 - higher than the normal score of below 4 for someone his age, according to John Hopkins Medical.

“In my case, I had options (basically non-surgical treatments or just cut it out),” he added, noting that “psychologically, I was inclined to embrace the ‘ectomy’ route — cut it out.”

“And in my case (where the cancer is, how it’s acting, and my willingness to deal with — or live with — the side effects), it seemed surgery was my best option,” he wrote. “After talking with my doctor and carefully considering each treatment strategy, I chose to undergo a robotic radical prostatectomy.”

Steves went on to describe the morning of his surgery which began when his alarm rang at 4:30 a.m. and included a "moment of prayer with my surgeon and Shelley (my angel caregiver through the physical and emotional white water of this ride)."

“I wake up feeling great, chatty, and making jokes I think are clever… clearly on some serious medicine,” he continued. “Thankfully, my doctor has a good report: Surgery went well, there was no sign of any spread, and the cancer seems to have been embedded deep in my prostate, which is now at the lab.”

The travel host added that he won't “really know how ‘it went’ until the lab reports are in. And that’s when I hope to hear the words ‘cancer-free.’ "

Related: Olivia Munn Shares Update in Her Breast Cancer Journey: 'I'm Doing Okay'

Steves also shared that he felt gratitude to “live in a corner of the world where hospitals aren’t being bombed or flooded... that I have access to a brilliant @UWMedicine surgeon and the best tech anywhere at Seattle’s @FredHutch Cancer Center... that I am surrounded by the love and support of so many.”

“Yes, I am thankful,” he wrote before stating that his first day back at home saw him napping and reading through messages of encouragement from people around the world.

“It wasn’t so long ago that people called cancer ‘the C word,’ or if they called it by name, they did so in a whisper,” Steves added. “As anyone who gets cancer learns, it permeates all corners of our society, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of or to hide — and when it comes to older men, it seems being tested for prostate cancer (a simple blood test you can request from your GP) is a smart idea.”

Speaking about his next steps, Steves said, “As for me, the next step is to get my catheter taken out — after which I’ll be steep on the incontinence learning curve. Then, I’ll get the lab reports. (I’ll be sure to keep you posted.)"

“In the meantime, I’m making a point to celebrate the vibrancy that fills my world… to give thanks for everything that works well in my body... and to meditate on how communities, technologies, and livable environments that we enjoy are not accidental — they happen when good people care and do good things,” he added.

“I’m looking forward to many more years of happy travels — and, of course, I’ll be sure to bring you along!" he concluded.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.