The Cure keyboardist Roger O’Donnell reveals ‘aggressive’ blood cancer diagnosis
Musician said he ‘ignored the symptoms’ for several months before he underwent 11 months of treatment.
The Cure keyboardist Roger O’Donnell has disclosed he has been diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of blood cancer.
The 68-year-old said he had “ignored the symptoms for a few months” before a biopsy in 2023 showed he had a rare type of lymphoma.
London-born O’Donnell wrote on Instagram on Sunday: “September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month so it’s a good opportunity to have a dialogue about these diseases.
“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.”
He said he completed 11 months of treatment, under some of “the finest specialists in the world”. His treatment involved taking cancer drugs and undergoing immunotherapy followed by radiotherapy.
The keyboardist assured fans that he is “fine” and that his prognosis is “amazing”.
He continued: “The mad axe murderer knocked on the door and we didn’t answer.”
He added: “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.”
Signing off, the musician thanked his partner Mimi, and his medical team.
In another post shared hours after, O’Donnell smiled at the camera in a black-and-white picture, captioning it: “The hair isn’t out of choice hahahah,” possibly alluding to the loss of hair through his treatment.
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