Bjorn Borg: Heartwrenching Memoir Revealing Aggressive Prostate Cancer

[PeterRS]

I know we have had pages of information about prostate cancer over the last 3 years, the latest covering Joe Biden's cancer. Now tennis great Bjorn Borg has announced he has an advanced stage of the disease having already had an operation in 2024. And yet again it makes me wonder how is it that men over a certain age succumb to such a common disease 

For those who do not remember, in the 1970s Borg was then the youngest Grand Slam champion when aged 18 he won the French Open (Michael Chang later won it aged 17). The world of tennis quickly became gripped by the young Swede. With his long flowing fair hair and impossibly good looks, he was a rock star and teen idol rolled into one. "Borgmania" was the name of the game! In all he won 11 Grand Slam touranments by the time he was 26. Will today's two young greats Carlos Alcaraz and Jannick Sinner reach that number by that age, I wonder? I expect one will as records are there to be broken.

But for Borg the ever-present stress, sacrifice and travel had taken their toll. He took three months off and then tried to return to the circuit. But for him the magic had gone. In the days when tennis players did not have teams of fitness trainers, agents and sports psychologists around them, Borg found himself totally alone. With no warning he quite suddenly gave that whole world up at that age of 26. In his new book Heartbeats: A Memoir, he relates all he could think of was how miserable his life had become. The joy had gone. He recounts how his own world then descended in a dreadful spiral. For several decades he quite literally disappeared to the extent he and his near impossible feats on the tennis court were amost forgotten. He cut all his ties with the tennis world, found a new group of friends when he moved to New York, Los Angeles and then Milan and as a result discovered a life full of cocaine, pills, booze and two near fatal overdoses.

Embarrassed at his new self, he had avoided returning to Wimbledon, the scene of arguably his greatest triumph when he won the title in five consecutive years. After therapies to get rid of his addictions, he did finally return to Wimbledon for the 2000 Parade of Champions. As the former champions were introduced, Borg received the loudest ovation. He now returns amost every year.

The book leaves nothing out. Following his 2024 operation for prostate cancer, the doctors informed him he had "sleeping cancer cells" which remained in his body. Like most who have been on such a roller-coaster in his life, he is now at peace and happy with his third wife, children and grandchildren. He has six-monthly prostate checks and remains in remission.

Why the Memoir now? "The decisions I took in my life were stupid, so I wanted to tell that story." His wife asked him "What d’you want to put in it?" and I said, "Everything". At the end of the very long Guardian article, the writer confirms "It is a painful read". 

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/ng-interactive/2025/sep/18/bjorn-borg-tennis-quit-sporting-superstar

[Mavica]

Thanks for the discussion topic. Yes, early detection can reduce the risk of cancer cells metastasizing.  All too many men, particularly younger men don't monitor or get PSA testing.  My prostate cancer was detected 16 years go when I was 59 and my prostate was removed at the time ... and, as of this writing, there's been no evidence of metastasis. 🙂  BTW, I'm visiting my brother this weekend, whose PC has returned after having had radiation treatments more than a decade ago.

[Keithambrose]

3 hours ago, Mavica said:

Thanks for the discussion topic. Yes, early detection can reduce the risk of cancer cells metastasizing.  All too many men, particularly younger men don't monitor or get PSA testing.  My prostate cancer was detected 16 years go when I was 59 and my prostate was removed at the time ... and, as of this writing, there's been no evidence of metastasis. 🙂  BTW, I'm visiting my brother this weekend, whose PC has returned after having had radiation treatments more than a decade ago.

PSA testing is a blunt tool, and often gives misleading results.  A contrast scan, which I had, is more reliable.  Most men of  a certain age, me included have an enlarged prostate, so  a regular scan is sensible. Mine is repeated every 18 months. As my pathologist friend remarked, far more men die with prostate cancer, than die of it. However. That doesn't mean that it should be ignored.  I think a lot of men are concerned about the possible effects of treatment,  lack of erection, incontinence,  etc, so put off checking.