Music icon Barry Manilow has publicly revealed he is being treated for lung cancer, a diagnosis that has forced him to postpone a series of upcoming live performances.
Diagnosis Follows Battle with Bronchitis
The 82-year-old singer, famed for hits like Copacabana and Mandy, shared the news on his Instagram account. He explained that the discovery came after a prolonged period of illness. "As many of you know I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks," Manilow wrote.
Even after recovering and returning to his Las Vegas residency, his doctor ordered an MRI as a precaution. That scan identified the problem. "The MRI discovered a cancerous spot on my left lung that needs to be removed," the Grammy Award-winner stated.
Surgery and Show Rescheduling
Manilow emphasised that the cancer was found early due to "pure luck" and a "great doctor." He confirmed he will not require chemotherapy or radiation treatment at this stage, but will undergo surgery to remove the spot.
This necessary operation and the subsequent month of recovery have directly impacted his touring plans. He has been forced to reschedule a string of January arena concerts across the United States. The affected shows were scheduled for cities including Orlando, Tampa, Charleston, Greensboro, and Columbus.
"I'm going into surgery to have the spot removed. The doctors do not believe it has spread and I'm taking tests to confirm their diagnosis," Manilow wrote. "The only follow-up is a month to recover and that means we have to reschedule the January arena concerts."
An Apology to Fans
The veteran performer expressed sincere regret to his fans for the disruption. "I'm very sorry that you have to change your plans," he said. "Just like you, we were all looking forward to the January shows and hate having to move everything around."
Manilow's career spans more than five decades, with a catalogue of enduring pop classics such as Could It Be Magic, Looks Like We Made It, and Can't Smile Without You. His announcement comes shortly after fellow music star Sir Cliff Richard revealed his own recent treatment for prostate cancer.
