Dr. Drew Pinsky Dishes on His New Series, Surviving Cancer and the Wildest Health Questions He’s Ever Been Asked (EXCLUSIVE)
The TV doctor opens up about cancer survival, aging struggles and a bold new mission
Television’s most recognizable doctor is back—this time with a bold new mission. Dr. Drew Pinsky, the board-certified internist and addiction medicine specialist best known for his decades-long career as a trusted medical voice, is debuting Health Uncensored, a groundbreaking health and wellness series designed to give viewers direct access to today’s most cutting-edge medical information.
Dr. Drew first rose to national fame as the co-host of the iconic radio show Loveline, where he offered frank, compassionate advice to millions of listeners. He went on to become a household name with television hits like Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, where he shed light on addiction and recovery, and his current interactive series, Ask Dr. Drew. With Health Uncensored, he’s expanding his mission—pairing his decades of medical expertise with the insight of leading physicians and the star power of Hollywood celebrities to make complex health topics accessible to everyone.
The series premieres September 25 with four 60-minute episodes airing on Lifetime and streaming on HealthUncensoredTV.com and YouTube. Ahead of the launch, Woman’s World sat down with Dr. Drew, who not only reflected on this exciting new chapter but also shared the good news of his own clean bill of health.
WW: Congratulations. You are starring in a new series called Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew. Tell me all about it.
Dr. Drew Pinsky: I call it the little show that could because there are many behind-the-scenes stories regarding the evolution of the show. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical at first, but the people I have interviewed have been enlightening and fascinating. They have moved my knowledge forward and I think they will do the same for our audience. We are also beginning to broaden out and interview people like the head of The National Institute of Health, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and Dr. Mehmet Oz.
WW: How is this show going to be different than other programs you’ve done in the past?
Dr. Drew: Everything I do is just me exploring things—so that never changes. I go into different media environments to see if we can do something good for people. This show is going to be a sit-down talk show in a studio. We are going to explore what is going on today in healthcare today, we want to go broader when we talk about food, relationships and keep growing from there.
WW: How did a California physician become one of the media’s most recognized TV doctors? Was being a TV and radio star on your radar?
Dr. Drew: (laughs) No. It was originally out of the question. I started radio in 1983. Ten years later, around 1993, Kennedy left the radio station to go to MTV. I knew her because she was on the show that followed mine, which was Loveline. Anyway, she came back to do Loveline and brought her manager. Anyway, he started telling me how he could help me and the first thing he asked me was, “What do you want to be doing in ten years?” I thought I would be running my practice.
Then people I began socializing with asked me if I heard of a radio station called KROQ because the station was wondering if I could help with a show about relationships. I was at that show from midnight to 2 a.m. and I did that for ten years. I was doing it for free because I thought I was doing community service. Radio has been such a powerful force, I began wondering if I could move it in another direction where I could help people, which is my natural instinct.
WW: How has becoming a household name changed your life?
Dr. Drew: It’s easier to get restaurant reservations. I love people and they always want to talk to you when they see you, so I like that. Because I am shy, I normally would not have as many conversations with people as I do. It has been a great privilege to be given this creative outlet, and I am very grateful for that.
WW: What would you say are the top five cookiest health questions you have been asked?
Dr. Drew: I think I have been asked that question more than 700 times. When I was doing my call-in show, every night they were cooky and there were many shocking things people ask every day. I was addressing some of the most serious medical issues such as reproduction health issues, infectious disease, psychiatric issues, addiction issues and that is what I have always been focused on.
WW: What were some of the most memorable calls you can’t forget?
Dr. Drew: There was one guy who was confused as to why girls wouldn’t talk to him when they found out he was in prison. We asked, “What were you in prison for?” He was in prison for stealing a head. He went into a cemetery and twisted off the head of an old lady because he needed a skull for his snake’s aquarium.
We also have addicts call in. I once had a caller phone in who didn’t understand why people were reacting to his monogamous relationship with his dog Brutus. When I questioned the guy, I came to learn he had severe depravity in childhood because he was as essentially a Romanian orphan.
WW: How many calls did you take?
Dr. Drew Pinsky: When I did my call-in show I would do a call every three minutes, that would add up to about 15 calls an hour, which is 30-40 calls a night because it was a two-hour show. Because it was five days a week program so that added up to 200 a week, 800 a month and 12,000 a year for 30 years. We took in over 45,000 calls. I wouldn’t say there was anything significantly different than what I was seeing in my clinical practice.
WW: Was there a common theme you saw with people?
Dr. Drew Pinsky: Men were preoccupied with themselves and concerned about their phallus. They want to know is it normal, is it functioning right and their anatomy. Women were asking about men such as, “how do I understand men. I can’t understand men and what is going on with men?”
WW: On a different note, how are you feeling. You are a cancer survivor.
Dr. Drew Pinsky: I feel great. I was diagnosed when I was 50 and I had my prostatectomy when I was 52. I had radiation three years ago and I feel good. I’m also involved with the Prostate Cancer Foundation. We have funded some of the most extraordinary research in the world. This organization has created a movement and pushed things forward. I have also been both a recipient and a beneficiary and I am really proud of that.
WW: September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Since you are all about giving back and connecting with people do you go out and talk to men about the importance of getting checked and seeking help?
Dr. Drew: Constantly. When it comes to prostate cancer, there are no symptoms, which is why you must get screened. If it is in your family, you should start at 40 with an annual PSA and 50 for everybody else. Also, do what the doctor tells you.
WW: Was your cancer detected during a routine annual check-up?
Dr. Drew Pinsky: I have an interesting story. I had H1N1, which was known as swine flu. When I got it, it was a brutal illness and after I recovered my wife said, “You were too sick, and you are going to need a physical.” I monitored my own PSA’s, my health and I got colonoscopies, but she made me get physical and we discovered my PSA went from one to four, which is a significant rise. The doctor wanted me to see the neurologist and then the physician wanted it to be biopsied, which we did, and BAM, it was cancer.
WW: What was your reaction when he gave you the diagnosis?
Dr. Drew Pinsky: I was like, WOW, this is why you can’t be your own doctor. The wisdom in this story is don’t treat yourself.
WW: Were you scared?
Dr. Drew Pinsky: We caught it early and if you are going to get cancer, get prostate cancer. It is one of the most manageable, one of the slowest growing. I remember thinking, “damn it at 50?” I knew I would get it in my 70’s but 50? I thought this wasn’t fair.
WW: You have been married to your wife Susan since 1991. What’s the secret to longevity?
Dr. Drew Pinsky: She and I were talking about this the other day. Whatever was there in the beginning is still there now. Make sure it is a person you really want to be with; someone you are really attracted to and someone you really like being around. That feeling has been there from the beginning. We also used lots of mental health services when we needed them and no one should be afraid to get help.
WW: How did your relationship change when you became empty nesters?
Dr. Drew Pinsky: When we were told that we were having super multiples, triplets, we were told things might not go well. The doctors told us about the mental health risks for all five of us, the safety issues and possibility that some relationships don’t survive. I decided to be that poker player and say, we are going all in. We did and it worked for us. When the kids left it was a huge relief! Are you kidding it was the greatest day ever (laughs). We could walk around the house naked, we could do whatever we wanted and because we really liked each other we had a great time together.
WW: What is one thing you would love to change?
Dr. Drew Pinsky: I don’t like aging. I don’t like getting older! I have screwed up shoulders and I can’t lift weights the way I like to. Aging takes things away from you because that is what aging primarily is. I hate that and I am fighting that by focusing on aging and longevity on the show because I am really interested in those topics. I am also passionate about perimenopause and menopause because I think they need to be given more attention.
WW: Because you are getting older and are a cancer survivor, how have you modified your lifestyle?
Dr. Drew Pinsky: I cut out alcohol. That helped with my sleep, which I monitor, and I lost weight. For men, and women too, you want to do resistance training because that can help with Sarcopenia, muscle loss which can cause a person to fall. Socialization is the numero uno to help prevent dementia. I would have taken testosterone replacement if I didn’t have cancer, but I do take a few supplements.
WW: What would you love for people to know about you?
Dr. Drew Pinsky: People misjudge me all the time. They infer motivation, which is not there or character issues that are not there. I am just trying to do some good, and I use the juggernaut, that is media to do something worthwhile. I am grateful to have this creative outlet because I love dealing with audiences, public speaking and delivering information.
WW: Are you proud of all that you achieved?
Dr. Drew Pinsky: I have low self-esteem. I don’t feel special, and that sometimes gets me in trouble, but I do feel that I have a responsibility to keep things going because I am deeply invested in the ability to share information.
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