Iconic Singer Barry Manilow Will Have Surgery for a Lung Cancer Diagnosis.
Barry Manilow has revealed that he was diagnosed with a cancerous growth in his lung and will undergo surgery.
Early-Stage Diagnosis
The legendary 82-year-old artist, famous for his series of upbeat chart-toppers from "Copacabana" established him as one of pop music’s cherished showmen, will have surgery to remove part of his lung in an effort to treat the condition, which is in its early stages.
“For those who have been following, I recently endured six weeks of a severe cough followed by a recurrence of another five weeks.
“Although I was over the bronchitis and returned to the spotlight in Las Vegas, my attentive medical team insisted on an MRI just to be certain that there were no issues.
“The MRI detected a tumor on my left lung that needs to be removed. It’s sheer fortune (and a great doctor) that it was found so early.”
Postponed Performances
He has rescheduled a number of planned live performances, but indicated he would be back on stage by Valentine’s Day for his enduring residency at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino.
He added: “The doctors do not believe it has metastasized and I’m taking tests to confirm their diagnosis. So, that’s it. No chemo. No radiotherapy. Just rest and recuperation and favorite shows.
“I’m counting the days until I rejoin my second home in Las Vegas for our February love-themed shows.”
Decades in the Spotlight
Manilow is presently in his 16th year of a show in Nevada. 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 pair were in a discreet relationship for more than 35 years. Recently, Manilow reflected on how vital Kief 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, going back to an empty hotel room, you can find yourself in a lot of problems if you, you know, you’re on your own repeatedly,” he said.
“But I encountered my future husband right around when it was exploding. And I was spared from having to go back to those lonesome rooms. I had somebody to share sorrows with or to enjoy success 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 quite isolating until I met Garry. And then it was a shared adventure.”
