Barry Manilow has announced he is cancer-free following surgery to remove part of his lung. The singer underwent the procedure after a stage 1 lung cancer diagnosis late last year. He shared details of his recovery and upcoming plans in an interview with People.
Barry Manilow revealed he is now cancer-free after a successful lobectomy to address stage 1 lung cancer. Diagnosed late last year, the singer canceled a series of Christmas shows in Las Vegas upon learning of the condition. Manilow told People, “I’m one of the lucky ones,” adding, “This really rocked me, but I’m getting stronger.” He spent seven days in the ICU post-surgery before discharge and avoided further treatments such as chemotherapy due to the early detection. The cancerous spot was found incidentally during an MRI ordered after he battled bronchitis. “If he hadn’t done that, man … He saved my life,” Manilow said, noting there were no symptoms. He described the ordeal as “a nightmare” that prompted deep reflection: “It has really, really made me take stock of my life... It really did stop me in my tracks. And the answers are yes.” Manilow also postponed his arena tour to focus on recovery. He plans to release his first new album in nearly 15 years, What a Time, on June 5. The rescheduled tour will begin April 13 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.