NEW YORK, April 6 (UPI) -- Actor Robert De Niro is reportedly thanking fans and friends for helping him in his battle against prostate cancer.
The "Analyze This" and "GoodFellas" star, who watched his own father die of the disease, went public about his health problems last year and is now urging others to do the same to encourage people to seek medical help, the World Entertainment News Network reported Tuesday.
Two friends who came forward to help De Niro beat cancer were former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and New York Yankees baseball boss Joe Torre, both of whom are cancer survivors.
"I didn't want it to come out in some sleazy way," WENN quoted De Niro saying. "I was fortunate enough by going public with it that people would give me the results of what they had done, so it helped me make a decision."
De Niro's cancer is now in remission.
