The 64-year-old said his current prognosis is ‘amazing’ after being diagnosed last year and completing 11 months of treatment.
The Cure keyboardist Roger O’Donnell is opening up about his cancer diagnosis, bringing dialogue to the disease as September marks blood cancer awareness month.
The 64-year-old took to
social media on Aug. 31 and revealed in a series of posts that he was diagnosed last year with lymphoma, recounting what led to the discovery and his treatment journey along the way.
“In September last year I was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of lymphoma. I had ignored the symptoms for a few months but finally went for a scan and after surgery, the result of the biopsy was devastating,” O’Donnell
wrote on X.
Lymphoma is a type of blood
cancer that forms in the body’s lymphatic system. That system is essential to the body’s germ and disease-fighting immune system.
The British musician said he’s already completed 11 months of treatment, including radiotherapy and immunotherapy, “under some of the finest specialists in the world.”
Over the last year, O’Donnell went on to receive second opinions and advice from a team of medical professionals who developed drugs that he’s taking in combination with his other treatments.
According to the
Mayo Clinic, the most common symptoms of lymphoma are painless swelling of lymph nodes in your neck, armpits or groin, but can also include fever, constant fatigue, shortness of breath, and weight loss.
“Cancer CAN be beaten but if you are diagnosed early enough you stand a way better chance, so all I have to say is go GET TESTED, if you have the faintest thought you may have symptoms go and get checked out,” he urged.
O’Donnell, who joined the rock band back in 1987, reassured fans he is feeling good and that his prognosis is “amazing” thus far.
He went on to express his gratitude for the love and support he has received from family, friends, and doctors who are helping him throughout all the hardships.
“Lastly if you know someone who is ill or suffering talk to them, every single word helps, believe me I know. I would also like to thank my Drs, rockstars, everyone of them, all the nurses and technicians, my friends, family and my partner Mimi, sometimes it’s harder to be on the other side of this.”
In 2019, O’Donnell was
inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the group and went on to perform during their North American tour.
It wasn’t until the end of 2023 however, that “The Cure”
announced that O’Donnell would not be performing on the Latin America leg of their tour citing health reasons.
“We are sure you will join with us in wishing him the speediest of recoveries,” the band
wrote, adding that Mike Lord would step in to play keyboard for the remainder of the shows.
O’Donnell’s announcement follows the death of former band member and drummer Andy Anderson, who passed away at the age of 68 following a terminal prostate cancer
diagnosis in February of 2019.
