Penny Lancaster Opens Up About Supporting Rod Stewart Through Cancer Battle & Her Own Mental Health Struggles
Penny Lancaster has revealed the emotional toll Rod Stewart’s 2017 prostate cancer diagnosis took on both of them, detailing a period of intense secrecy and her own subsequent battle with depression in her new book, Someone Like Me.
Rod was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer during a routine appointment, but initially requested complete privacy. He confided in Penny, wanting time to process the news before sharing it publicly. Lancaster described the waiting period for results as “excruciating,” noting that Rod remarkably focused on planning his next tour even while recovering from treatment.
The secrecy surrounding Rod’s illness proved challenging for penny,forcing her to temporarily isolate herself from her usual support network. Shortly after, an appearance on Loose Women unexpectedly led her to discuss past experiences with sexual harassment. Lancaster believes this opened a floodgate of suppressed emotions, triggering a downward spiral into depression.
“I felt incredibly low,and my depression spiralled further,and I realised that to be strong for both myself and Rod,I might need some help too,” she explained. Initially hesitant,fearing it would make her appear “weak,” Penny ultimately decided to try antidepressants. “silly, when I look back now. But I did need to get over this bump, to feel more able to tackle life head-on,” she said. She found the medication to be incredibly helpful, describing them as “the safety raft she needed until she could get back to shore.”
Alongside medication, Penny began therapy, a space she desperately needed to process her feelings. “As I sat in the therapist’s room, I sobbed solidly for three hours. It’s as if a valve had been released,” she recalled. During sessions, she confronted her fears about possibly losing Rod and the impact his illness would have on their sons. She also found herself revisiting past trauma,which she believes was triggered by her Loose Women appearance.
While she didn’t continue therapy after that initial period, Penny felt the timing wasn’t right, needing to prioritize supporting Rod. Fortunately, Rod stewart received the all-clear from cancer in July 2019.