Barry Manilow Scheduled for Surgery for Cancer in His Lung.
Barry Manilow has revealed that he was diagnosed with lung cancer and will undergo surgery.
Early-Stage Diagnosis
The octogenarian performer, famous for his series of beloved anthems from "I Write the Songs" has made him one of pop music’s cherished showmen, will have a procedure to extract a portion of his lung in an effort to combat the disease, which is at an early phase.
“As my fans are aware, I recently endured six weeks of a bronchial infection followed by a recurrence of another five weeks.
“Even though I was past the infection and returned to the spotlight in Las Vegas, my excellent physician insisted on an MRI just to ensure that there were no issues.
“The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left side that needs to be removed. It’s sheer fortune (and a skilled doctor) that it was caught so early.”
Postponed Performances
He has delayed a series of upcoming live performances, but suggested he would be returning to perform by Valentine’s Day for his long-running engagement at his Vegas home.
He went on to say: “The physicians do not believe it has metastasized and I’m undergoing further tests to confirm their diagnosis. So, that’s it. No chemo. No radiotherapy. Just home remedies and I Love Lucy reruns.
“I’m eagerly awaiting until I rejoin my second home at the Westgate Las Vegas for our Valentine’s weekend concerts.”
Professional and Personal Journey
Manilow is now in the 16th year of a concert series at the Westgate Las Vegas. The singer has spent decades in the public eye and revealed he is gay in 2017, after marrying his manager and long-term partner confidentially in 2014.
The duo were in a discreet romance for more than 35 years. Recently, Manilow reflected on how important his partner had been to him during his ascent to stardom in the 1970s.
“During my rapid rise to fame, it was just overwhelming. And, you know, coming home to an empty hotel room, you can get into a lot of difficulty if you, you know, you’re by yourself repeatedly,” he said.
“But I encountered my future husband right around when it was blowing up. And I didn’t have to go back to those lonesome rooms. I had somebody to cry with or to celebrate with.
“I wish that young people don’t have to go back to those hotel rooms by themselves, because you can make poor choices. I never did. But it was very solitary until I met Garry. And then it was a shared adventure.”
