Barry Manilow to Undergo a Procedure for a Lung Cancer Diagnosis.
The singer has disclosed that he was diagnosed with cancer of the lung and will be having an operation.
Early-Stage Diagnosis
The 82-year-old singer, whose parade of high-spirited hits from "Copacabana" established him as one of pop music’s most beloved showmen, will have surgery to extract a portion of his lung in an effort to treat the condition, which is at an early phase.
“For those who have been following, I recently suffered from six weeks of bronchitis followed by a return of another five weeks.
“Despite the fact that I was past the infection and performing again for my residency, my attentive medical team requested an MRI just to ensure that all was clear.
“The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that requires removed. It’s incredible chance (and a great doctor) that it was caught so early.”
Postponed Performances
He has delayed a string of forthcoming live performances, but suggested he would be returning to perform by Valentine’s Day for his long-running residency at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino.
He continued: “The medical team do not believe it has metastasized and I’m undergoing further tests to confirm their diagnosis. So, that’s it. Chemo is not needed. No radiotherapy. Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns.
“I’m counting the days until I return to my familiar venue in Las Vegas for our Valentine’s weekend concerts.”
A Long Career and Personal Life
Manilow is currently in the 16th year of a concert series on the Las Vegas Strip. The singer has spent decades in the public eye and revealed he is gay in 2017, after wedding his partner of many years, Garry Kief confidentially in 2014.
The couple were in a discreet partnership for in excess of 35 years. Last year, Manilow spoke about how important Kief had been to him during his ascent to stardom in the 1970s.
“When my fame skyrocketed, it was just hectic. And, you know, returning to an empty hotel room, you can find yourself in a lot of problems if you, you know, you’re alone evening after evening,” he said.
“But I found my partner right around when it was blowing up. And I didn’t have to go back to those isolated suites. I had somebody to be vulnerable with or to share joys with.
“I hope that newcomers today don’t have to go back to those suites by themselves, because you might succumb to pitfalls. I never did. But it was pretty lonely until I met Garry. And then it was fun.”
