After Defeating Multiple Myeloma, Brewers Coach, 65, Takes On Prostate Cancer with the Strength That Inspired His Team to Victory

“We all have his back, and we all want what’s best for him. We understand there are more important things than this game. We can’t wait to see him soon,” Brewers second baseman Brice Turang shared with MLB.com.

LeBoeuf’s first brush with cancer began unexpectedly in spring 2012, when strange symptoms interrupted a round of golf.

Doctors ultimately discovered a concerning lesion on his hip, which proved to be cancerous.

Tracing back to a 1985 Triple-A game, LeBoeuf had taken a powerful pitch to the hip—a “turbo sinker,” as he described it—that caused a bone bruise. The lingering trauma in that area led to complications years later.

“For like 30 years, apparently, it was producing protein into my body to try to heal it. It produced so much protein that it kind of ate at the antibodies and gave me a blood cancer called multiple myeloma, which in turn gave me a neuropathy called POEMS syndrome, which, at the time, there were only 200 known cases in the world,” LeBoeuf explained to The New York Times.

WATCH: Diagnosing Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple myeloma compromises the immune system and causes a range of symptoms, including bone pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties. Though incurable, it can be managed through rigorous treatment. LeBoeuf entered remission following chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant.

LeBoeuf underwent a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test this Spring. The test measures the prostate-specific antigen in the blood. An elevated PSA level in the blood does not always mean you have prostate cancer, but it does call for further tests. LeBoeuf’s test results were deemed “troubling,” MLB.com reports.

While details of his current diagnosis are still undisclosed—such as the stage and type of prostate cancer—his treatment included a prostatectomy, a surgical procedure where the entire prostate is removed along with surrounding tissue like the seminal vesicles. This operation can carry side effects such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.

Despite these challenges, LeBoeuf’s resilience and openness continue to make a lasting impression on those around him. His journey stands as a powerful testament to perseverance, both on and off the field.

Navigating Surgery Options for Prostate Cancer: What to Expect

Prostate cancer treatment plans are shaped by several key diagnostic factors—namely, your prostate exam results, PSA levels, and Gleason Score, which signals how aggressive the cancer may be. Based on these findings, your doctor will assess your risk level, typically classified as low, intermediate, or high.

WATCH: Dr. David Wise, NYU Langone medical oncologist, explains how Gleason’s score affects treatment and prognosis.

Men with low or very low risk might avoid surgery altogether. For those at higher risk, more intensive treatment options may be necessary. As explained in a segment by Dr. David Wise, an NYU Langone medical oncologist, the Gleason Score plays a vital role in both treatment planning and overall prognosis.

Regardless of risk category, surgery is a potential option for prostate cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate gland. This procedure—known as a radical prostatectomy—involves the removal of the entire prostate and surrounding tissues, including the seminal vesicles that produce fluid for semen.

Depending on the medical team and facility, this surgery can be performed through traditional open methods or minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques involving one large or several small incisions.

“It’s typically done through a robotic technique today, at least in the United States, but a lot of patients are still getting open surgery,” Dr. Stephen Freedland, a urologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told SurvivorNet.

“Depending on the surgeon, it may be two, three, four, five hours — somewhere in that range, usually spend one night in the hospital. You wake up from the surgery with a catheter in your bladder. Once you’re home, it’s really just recovering, gaining your strength back,” Dr. Freedland added.

WATCH: How do you choose the right surgeon, particularly for robotic surgery? 

Other common treatment options for men with prostate cancer include: Radiation therapy and Surgery, followed by radiation.

Radiation therapy is a common treatment for prostate cancer, typically administered five days a week over several weeks. Modern advancements such as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) allow more targeted radiation beams aimed directly at the tumor—helping to preserve surrounding healthy tissue and potentially shortening the treatment timeline.

Another approach, known as brachytherapy, involves implanting tiny radioactive seeds directly into the prostate. This method is particularly effective for men with smaller prostates. For those with larger prostates, doctors may recommend hormone therapy first to shrink the gland before proceeding with brachytherapy.

Radiation therapy is also frequently paired with hormone therapy in a combination approach. Androgens, the male hormones that fuel prostate cancer growth, are reduced through a treatment called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which slows the cancer’s progression.

“Usually, for men with tumors that spread, hormonal therapy is usually the first line that we do, and more importantly, it’s the backbone upon which we build,” Dr. Freedland explained to SurvivorNet.

Radiation can also be part of a post-surgical strategy. When used after surgery to eliminate lingering cancer cells, it’s referred to as adjuvant therapy. This may be necessary when the surgeon cannot remove all of the prostate, if PSA levels remain detectable, or if genetic testing reveals a high-risk profile.

Men facing high or very high-risk prostate cancer are especially likely to require radiation following surgery, compared to those with lower-risk cases.

Considering Side Effects of Prostate Cancer Surgery

Before undergoing surgery, patients must discuss potential side effects with their doctor. Known surgical risks include erectile dysfunction (difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection) and urinary incontinence (accidental leaking of urine).

These side effects result from potential damage to nerves and blood vessels essential for sexual function. The degree of risk depends on the surgical method used and the patient’s specific cancer profile.

WATCH: Sexual Function Recovery After Prostate Cancer Surgery

Erectile function is closely tied to the prostate’s anatomy, which is why prostate cancer treatments can significantly affect sexual health. The nerves responsible for erections wrap tightly around the prostate, making them vulnerable during both surgery and radiation.

“Erectile function is so sensitive when we’re dealing with prostate cancer because of the fact that the nerves that are critical for this function wrap around the prostate; they’re just so intimately connected to the prostate that they can be damaged from a surgical removal of the prostate or through radiation treatment,” explains Dr. Isla Garraway, a staff urologist with the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, in an interview with SurvivorNet.

Still, there’s hope. Dr. Stephen Freedland notes that most men gradually regain function over time. For those who qualify, nerve-sparing surgery—where surgeons carefully avoid damaging the surrounding nerves—can reduce the risk of long-term dysfunction. However, this approach depends on the cancer’s location and whether the nerves can safely be preserved. Within a year of undergoing nerve-sparing prostatectomy, approximately 40–50% of men return to their pre-treatment sexual function.

For men who experience erectile dysfunction (ED), there are various treatment options available:

• Oral medications such as Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra help improve blood flow to the penis and can address mild to moderate ED.
• Penile injections and vacuum erection devices (VEDs) are alternatives that can induce erections by stimulating blood flow.
• Penile prostheses offer a more permanent solution.

“There are two main prosthetic options: an inflatable prosthesis placed in the scrotum or a bendable plastic prosthesis,” Dr. Freedland shares, adding that “most men who choose this route report being pleased with the outcome.”

Medical experts often recommend sexual counseling following prostate cancer treatment. This form of therapy supports individuals and couples in navigating the emotional and relational challenges that may accompany changes in sexual health. Counseling can help explore intimacy techniques, address concerns, and ease the transition into post-treatment life.

Why Surgery May Not Be the First Step

Prostate cancer often progresses slowly, making immediate treatment unnecessary for some men. Older individuals or those with low-risk cancer may benefit from an approach called active surveillance. This strategy involves monitoring the cancer closely over time rather than proceeding with aggressive interventions.

WATCH: People With Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Can Rely on Monitoring the Disease

Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer: A Strategic and Personalized Approach

Active surveillance offers a proactive way to manage prostate cancer, especially for men with low-risk or slow-growing disease. This method involves closely monitoring the cancer for changes using routine exams and testing—such as PSA blood tests every six months, annual digital rectal exams, and periodic prostate biopsies or imaging studies every one to three years.

Despite some misconceptions, experts emphasize that this strategy is far from passive.
SurvivorNet notes that active surveillance is not “watchful waiting.” It is a deliberate treatment path that requires consistent coordination between patients and their medical team.

“[It’s] not just kind of check in once a year—hey, how are you doing—but actively have a physician check a PSA and do a rectal examination,” Dr. Edwin Posadas, director of the Translational Oncology Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told SurvivorNet.

Advanced imaging tools allow physicians to observe cancer at the cellular level, helping to determine whether it’s stable or progressing.

“We can actually see some of the metabolic information within the cells through our next-generation imaging and find high-risk areas that are or are not changing in a patient to let us know, yeah, that cancer’s still sleeping. Let’s not bother– let’s not put that young man through the risk of losing his sexual quality of life or his urinary quality of life,” Dr. Posadas added.

This approach can be highly beneficial—about half of the men who choose active surveillance avoid unnecessary treatment and the side effects that may come with it. However, for the other half, treatment eventually becomes necessary. That could be due to cancer progression or a personal decision to act proactively.

Ongoing monitoring and test results will guide your care team in determining the right time, if ever, to move toward more aggressive treatment.

Questions for Your Doctor

If you have experienced symptoms associated with prostate cancer or have a screening coming up, here are some questions you may ask your doctor:

• If I had elevated PSA levels, what could be causing that besides cancer?
• How long will it take to learn if my PSA levels warrant further testing?
• What are the treatment options that are best suited for me based on my risk level?
• What financial resources exist to help me with the costs associated with treatment?
• How long will my potential treatment prevent me from working or continuing normal activities?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.