The Cure’s Roger O’Donnell has revealed he was diagnosed with blood cancer last year (Picture: Scott Legato/Getty Images)
The Cure’s Roger O’Donnell has revealed he was diagnosed with a ‘very rare and aggressive form’ of blood cancer a year ago.
The 68-year-old keyboardist of the Friday I’m In Love group shared he was diagnosed with the disease in September last year, after ignoring symptoms.
He’s now raising awareness of the importance of getting checked out for any symptoms to mark Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
He began a lengthy post on X: ‘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.’
The musician said his prognosis is ‘amazing’ after he underwent the latest immunotherapy treatment and received ‘second opinions’.
He went on: ‘I’ve now completed 11 months of treatment under some of the finest specialists in the world and with second opinions and advice from the teams that had developed the drugs I was being given.
‘I had the benefit of the latest sci fi immunotherapy and some drugs that were first used 100 years ago.
The keyboardist is raising awareness after he ignored symptoms (Picture: Daniel DeSlover/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
‘The last phase of treatment was radiotherapy which also was one of the first treatments developed against cancer. I’m fine and the prognosis is amazing.’
Roger implored anyone with the ‘faintest thought’ of symptoms to get tested, as he thanked everyone who has been there for him.
According to Blood Cancer UK, symptoms can include unexplained weight loss and bruising, breathlessness, rashes, tiredness, and lumps and swellings.
Offering his advice, he concluded: ‘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.
‘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 its harder to be on the other side of this…..’
Roger pulled out of the band’s Latin America tour due to ‘health reasons’ last November.
In a social media statement, the Lovecats group said: ‘We are sure you will join with us in wishing him the speediest of recoveries.’
The band sent a message ‘wishing him the speediest of recoveries’ (Picture: Margaret Norton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
A previous drummer for the band, Andy Anderson, died aged 68 in 2019 after being diagnosed with cancer.
The Cure, known for the tracks Boys Don’t Cry and Friday I’m In Love, have also played the Teenage Cancer Trust series of concerts.
Led by Robert Smith, the goth rock band was formed in Crawley, West Sussex, in the 1970s with O’Donnell joining during the 1980s.
In 2019, the members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Macmillan cancer support
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
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