Barry Manilow has been diagnosed with lung cancer. The Mandy and Copacabana singer-songwriter is forced to cancel his January arena tour dates to undergo treatment and now sends a message to his fans.
Global superstar Barry Manilow was set to perform a series of concerts in Florida in January. Now, days before Christmas, the singer-songwriter, known for songs such as Mandy, Copacabana, and Somewhere Down the Road, has been forced to postpone those arena tour dates.
Through Instagram, Manilow has announced that he’s been diagnosed with lung cancer. He wrote that during a recent MRI, a “cancerous spot” in his left lung was discovered. Meanwhile, his physicians “do not belive it has spread.”
“As many of you know I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks,” Manilow wrote. “Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK.”
The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed. “It’s pure luck (and a great doctor) that it was found so early. That’s the good news.”
Manilow continued, “The bad news is that now that the Christmas Gift Of Love concerts are over I’m going into surgery to have the spot removed. The doctors do not believe it has spread and I’m taking tests to confirm their diagnosis. So that’s it. No chemo. No radiation. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns.”
Barry Manilow diagnosed with lung cancer
The U.S. tour in January included nine concerts across nine cities. The show dates have been rescheduled for late February, March, and April.
Barry Manilow has been a smoker for 30 years and switched to electronic cigarettes a decade ago. In 2012, Manilow told the London Evening Standard 2012 that he’d been smoking since the age of nine.
“Well, I smoked for 30 years. I started when I was nine years old. I grew up in Brooklyn,” he said. “Then I stopped about 15, 20 years ago. Then I just started in Las Vegas and the band and I went down to a little club and somebody offered me a cigarette. And I was back.”
He added, “Within a week, I was back. Not on a pack a day, because when I was really smoking, I was on three packs a day – non-filters. Oh yeah. I was a great smoker.”
Calls for everyone to get tested
In the cancer statement, the 82-year-old added that he’s “sorry” to have to change his fans’ plans. He further noted that his upcoming shows will be at his “home away from home,” the Westgate Los Angeles Resort and Casino, over Valentine’s Day weekend.
“Something tells me February is going to be one big party,” he concluded. “I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year and remember, if you even have the slightest symptom, get tested!”
We are sending our best wishes to Barry Manilow. Please share this article if you also enjoy his music!
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