Barry Manilow, aged 82, revealed on Monday that he will undergo surgery to remove a cancerous spot detected on his lung, leading to the rescheduling of his January concerts. The discovery was made by his doctors following a prolonged battle with bronchitis lasting six weeks, followed by a relapse lasting five weeks.
In a social media post, Manilow shared that an MRI scan, ordered by his doctor as a precaution, revealed the presence of a cancerous spot on his left lung, which necessitates surgical removal. Fortunately, the cancer was detected at an early stage due to a stroke of luck and the expertise of his medical team.
The singer assured fans that the cancer has not spread, indicating that he will likely not require chemotherapy or radiation treatment but rather intends to focus on rest, comfort food, and watching reruns of “I Love Lucy.” A statement from Manilow’s representatives confirmed that the tumor is classified as stage one, with the surgery scheduled for late December.
Following the procedure, Manilow will take time to recuperate throughout January and is set to resume his performances with special Valentine’s weekend concerts starting on February 12 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino. His arena tour will recommence on February 28 in Tampa, Florida, after being postponed from January. The originally planned 10 concerts in January across nine venues in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Ohio will now be held in February.