Barry Manilow Scheduled for a Procedure for Cancer in His Lung.
The singer has disclosed that he has been diagnosed with a cancerous growth in his lung and is set to have a surgical procedure.
Early-Stage Diagnosis
The 82-year-old singer, famous for his series of beloved anthems from "I Write the Songs" cemented his status as one of pop music’s cherished performers, will have surgery to remove part of his lung in an effort to fight off the disease, which is detected early.
“As many of you know, I recently suffered from six weeks of bronchitis followed by a recurrence of another five weeks.
“Despite the fact that I was past the infection and back on stage in Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor insisted on an MRI just to be certain that there were no issues.
“The MRI identified a malignant lesion 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 number of upcoming live performances, but stated he would be back on stage by Valentine’s Day for his enduring engagement at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino.
He went on to say: “The doctors do not believe it has metastasized and I’m undergoing further tests to verify their assessment. So, that’s it. Chemo is not needed. Radiation therapy is off the table. Just home remedies and classic TV.
“I’m looking forward to until I return to my second home for our Vegas run for our Valentine’s weekend concerts.”
Decades in the Spotlight
Manilow is now in the 16th year of a show on the Las Vegas Strip. The singer has enjoyed a career spanning many years in the spotlight and came out as gay in 2017, after marrying his manager and long-term partner confidentially in 2014.
The couple were in a clandestine romance for over 35 years. In 2023, Manilow reflected on how crucial his husband had been to him during his rise to peak fame in the 1970s.
“As my career exploded, it was just crazy. And, you know, coming home to an lonesome hotel suite, you can land in a lot of difficulty if you, you know, you’re on your own repeatedly,” he said.
“But I encountered my future husband right around when it was taking off. And I didn’t have to go back to those lonesome rooms. I had a person to be vulnerable with or to share joys with.
“I hope that newcomers today don’t have to go back to those hotel rooms 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.”
