Legendary musician Rod Stewart was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in 2017 following a routine appointment. Despite the severity of his health battle, Sir Rod initially expressed a strong desire to keep his diagnosis private. He conveyed this wish to his wife, Penny Lancaster, explaining that he wanted to understand his condition fully before making it public. This period of secrecy and anticipation for results proved to be incredibly challenging for Penny, who described the wait as "excruciating" in her book, "Someone Like Me."

During this difficult time, Rod maintained a remarkably positive outlook, even planning his next tour while recovering from treatment. However, Penny struggled silently, finding the imposed secrecy a significant burden. She recounted having to disconnect from her usual support network, calling the situation an "agonising wait." Her emotional dam eventually broke during an unexpected appearance on the television show Loose Women, where she spontaneously shared her experiences with sexual harassment. She believes this public revelation inadvertently opened the floodgates for all the emotions she had been suppressing.

In the aftermath, Penny felt a surge of support but also faced a deepening battle with her mental health. She confessed to feeling "incredibly low" and experiencing a spiraling depression, realizing she might need assistance to be strong for both herself and Rod. Although initially hesitant about taking anti-depressants, viewing it as a sign of weakness, she later recognized the necessity. She described the medication as a "safety raft" that helped her navigate through her challenges until she could regain her footing. She also sought therapy, which provided a much-needed outlet for emotions she couldn't share with others. During her first session, she sobbed for three hours, releasing a "bewildering mix of past trauma" alongside her fears of losing Rod and her sons losing their father.

Despite the therapeutic release, Penny decided not to continue with therapy at that specific time, feeling the timing wasn't right and that certain "skeletons needed to be shut away for a while longer" as they dealt with Rod's ongoing diagnosis. Thankfully, Rod Stewart received the all-clear from cancer in July 2019, marking the successful conclusion of his health journey.