In season 3 episode 5 of And Just Like That…, Kristin Davis portrays Charlotte and Evan Handler plays Harry. Harry Goldenblatt in this season begins to question his health. During an evening walk past the Guggenheim Museum, Harry reveals to Charlotte that he has been experiencing strange symptoms, leading him to visit the doctor and receive a prostate cancer diagnosis. While Charlotte is understandably fearful, Harry assures her that they caught it early.
The portrayal of Harry’s experience on the show may take creative liberties according to experts. Harry’s symptoms are depicted through comedic situations, such as wetting his pants in a nightclub and experiencing difficulties in the bedroom. However, in reality, early-stage prostate cancer often presents with no symptoms and is typically detected through routine PSA tests.
Dr. Julia Willingham, a urologist, notes that while the show’s creative approach moves the plot forward, most early-stage prostate cancer cases are asymptomatic. The disease, which is expected to affect over 313,000 men in the U.S. in 2025, is known as a silent killer due to its lack of noticeable symptoms. Screening tests like the PSA test are crucial in detecting prostate cancer early in men, typically starting around age 50 for those with average risk. Regular screenings based on age and risk factors can help in early detection and treatment of the disease.
Biopsy and additional tests such as a CT scan or bone scan may be recommended to confirm the diagnosis. Men sometimes overlook symptoms of prostate cancer, assuming they feel healthy, only to later discover they are affected. A more common route to diagnosis used to involve urinary issues like difficulty starting to urinate or an inability to fully empty the bladder before the PSA test became a diagnostic tool in 1994. Dr. Mark Pomerantz explains that the proximity of the prostate to the bladder and urethra can lead to urinary retention if a large tumor presses against the tube.
In the past, prostate cancer was often detected after it had spread to other parts of the body, causing symptoms such as severe back pain from bone metastasis. With the availability of early detection tests like PSA screening, such late-stage diagnoses are less common. Harry’s symptoms of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, although common side effects of prostate cancer treatment, are not typically the initial signs that lead to diagnosis.
While active surveillance may be an option for some patients, aggressive cancer may require surgical removal of the prostate, which can result in side effects like urinary leakage due to the delicate nature of the reconstructed urethra. Damage to the nerves responsible for bladder control during surgery can also lead to the portrayed side effects.
Throughout the episode, Charlotte struggles to manage her emotions while keeping Harry’s diagnosis from their children during a planned camping trip.
Together, on the brink of an emotional breakdown, which experts say is a natural reaction. “Everyone always talks about the C word,” notes Koo. “I believe your mind immediately goes to the worst-case scenario, considering the impact on your life expectancy.” Many men fret over how they will continue to work and the effect their illness will have on their family’s finances. “Someone like Harry, with young children, might ask, ‘How will I support them?'” he explains. “It’s heartbreaking, regardless of how positive the prognosis may be.”
A silver lining in the darkness, experts hope Harry’s diagnosis will prompt more men to undergo screening for prostate cancer. “Men should not fear prostate cancer screening,” says Dr. Brahmbhatt, a urologist at Orlando Health. “It’s a straightforward blood test, akin to checking your cholesterol.” Prostate cancer is one of the most common diagnoses in men, he adds, and is highly treatable, particularly when detected early. More men succumb with the disease rather than from it. “It’s unlike some of those rarer cancers,” he explains. “The more screenings we conduct, the better health outcomes we can achieve.”
Willingham notices a growing number of men taking the initiative to get screened and believes that knowledge is power. She commends Harry’s new story for inspiring individuals to prioritize their annual check-ups, take care of themselves, and stay informed. “Regardless of cancer, if you experience urinary or sexual symptoms, consult your doctor because these issues can be addressed and managed – there’s no need to suffer in silence.” For further information, please contact us at letters@time.com.
