Iconic Singer Barry Manilow Scheduled for a Procedure for a Lung Cancer Diagnosis.
Barry Manilow announced that he has been diagnosed with a cancerous growth in his lung and is set to have a surgical procedure.
Spot Found in Initial Phase
The octogenarian performer, whose parade of upbeat chart-toppers from "Mandy" has made him one of pop music’s most beloved performers, will have surgery to remove part of his lung in an effort to treat the illness, which is detected early.
“As many of you know, I recently endured six weeks of bronchitis followed by a return of another five weeks.
“Even though I was recovered from the illness and performing again in Las Vegas, my attentive medical team insisted on an MRI just to ensure that all was clear.
“The MRI identified a cancerous spot on my left side that must be removed. It’s sheer fortune (and a skilled doctor) that it was caught so early.”
Postponed Performances
He has postponed a series of forthcoming shows, but suggested he would be back on stage by mid-February for his long-running residency at his Vegas home.
He went on to say: “The medical team do not believe it has spread and I’m undergoing further tests to support their conclusion. So, that’s it. Chemo is not needed. No radiation. Just rest and recuperation and classic TV.
“I’m looking forward to until I return to my familiar venue for our Vegas run for our Valentine’s weekend concerts.”
Decades in the Spotlight
Manilow is currently in the 16th year of a show on the Las Vegas Strip. The singer has spent decades in the limelight and publicly identified as gay in 2017, after wedding his manager and long-term partner confidentially in 2014.
The duo were in a clandestine partnership for over 35 years. Last year, Manilow spoke about how vital his husband had been to him during his rise to peak fame in the 1970s.
“During my rapid rise to fame, it was just hectic. And, you know, going back to an vacant room, you can find yourself in a lot of difficulty if you, you know, you’re on your own evening after evening,” he said.
“But I met Garry right around when it was exploding. And I no longer had to go back to those lonesome rooms. I had a partner to share sorrows with or to enjoy success with.
“I wish that newcomers today don’t have to go back to those rooms by themselves, because you can make poor choices. I never did. But it was pretty lonely until I met Garry. And then it was a shared adventure.”