John Tesh Reveals Cancer Battle, Credits Wife for Life-Saving Care

Houston, Texas — John Tesh, a 73-year-old composer and television personality, is opening up about his battle with cancer and the vital role his wife, Connie Sellecca, played in his treatment. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Tesh described how his wife helped him navigate a challenging health crisis.

Tesh was diagnosed with stage III prostate cancer in 2015, with doctors suggesting that his tumors might be inoperable and giving him only 18 months to live. Determined to fight the disease, he took matters into his own hands, researching potential treatments and eventually finding a surgeon who performed a radical prostatectomy.

Despite initial hopes, a follow-up MRI in 2017 revealed that the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes. At this pivotal moment, Connie recalled two friends from her modeling days who might help. While discussing his treatment options, she urged Tesh to seek care at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

“She had met these two friends in New York when she was a model, and when I was at my wits’ end and couldn’t find the right treatment for this rare form of prostate cancer, she contacted them,” Tesh explained.

MD Anderson, which treats over 1,000 cases of prostate cancer annually, offered expertise far beyond that of other hospitals where Tesh had previously sought care. “They treat the whole body, not just the cancer,” he emphasized.

Currently, Tesh is under the care of his doctors at MD Anderson, where he has been actively monitoring his disease progression. He recently participated in a fundraiser for the institution and expressed profound gratitude for the care he received, stating, “I shouldn’t even be alive now. I’m really grateful.”

As his health journey parallels a renaissance in his music career, Tesh’s iconic composition “Roundball Rock,” originally written for the NBA on NBC in 1990, has returned to primetime. He shared how fans overwhelmingly preferred the original version over his new recording.

“The wild inside baseball story is that when I heard it was coming back, I recorded another version with a full orchestra. Fans wanted the OG version, so we’re hearing the demo from 1989,” Tesh said.

Balancing his music and philanthropic efforts, Tesh is focused on his health and spending time with his three grandchildren. His experience serves both as a powerful life lesson and as inspiration for his creative projects.

“This is a great place right now — this minute to be grateful,” Tesh said.