The Cure keyboardist Roger O’Donnell has revealed he has been diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of blood cancer.
The London-born musician says he “ignored the symptoms for a few months” before a biopsy in 2023 showed he had a rare type of lymphoma.
O'Donnell's announcement comes after previous band member Andy Anderson, died aged 68 back in 2019 having also been diagnosed with cancer.
The Cure's Roger O’Donnell reveals "aggressive" cancer diagnosis
On Instagram on Sunday (September 1), O’Donnell posted: “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 added he has “completed 11 months of treatment under some of the finest specialists in the world", taken a range of cancer drugs while also undergoing the latest immunotherapy.
O’Donnell said the “last phase of treatment was radiotherapy”, and he is now “fine and the prognosis is amazing”.
"Cancer can be beaten", he continued, if diagnosed early and he advised everyone to "go get tested, if you have the faintest thought you may have symptoms".
Blood cancer symptoms
Blood cancer symptoms, according to Blood Cancer UK, include:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Bruising
- Breathlessness
- Rashes
- Tiredness
- Lumps and swellings
The 68-year-old added: “Lastly if you know someone who is ill or suffering talk to them, every single word helps, believe me I know."
He concluded the post by thanking all the "rockstar" doctors involved, nurses, technicians, friends, family and his partner Mimi.
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The Cure is known for hits including Boys Don’t Cry, Friday I’m In Love and Just Like Heaven.
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 Cure band members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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