The Cure keyboardist Roger O’Donnell revealed his lymphoma diagnosis in a series of posts Sunday on X in honor of September’s being Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
“In September last year I was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of lymphoma,” O’Donnell wrote. “I had ignored the symptoms for a few months but finally went and after surgery the result of the biopsy was devastating.”
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s immune system responsible for fighting disease. Symptoms of lymphoma include fever; fatigue; painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the groin, neck, armpits and belly; losing weight without trying; and itchy skin, according to MayoClinic.org.
O’Donnell said he has completed 11 months of treatment, which included immunotherapy, medication and radiotherapy.
“Im fine and the prognosis is amazing,” he said about his condition now. “the mad axe murderer knocked on the door and we didnt answer.”
O’Donnell warned those who may be feeling symptoms of blood cancer to get tested as soon as possible.
“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 wrote.
He also encouraged fans who know someone who is sick to talk to them, adding that “every single word helps.”
O’Donnell joined the English band The Cure in 1987 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the group in 2019. He performed with the band during its North American tour last year before he pulled out of the Latin American tour because of “health reasons in November, Rolling Stone reported.
