Barry Manilow<\/a> \u201cnever\u201d thought cancer would “get [him]”.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow<\/p>\n
In December 2025, the 82-year-old singer-songwriter announced he had been diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer after the disease was detected during an MRI after hearing about recent bouts of bronchitis, and Barry underwent a lobectomy to remove a “cancerous tumour” on his left lung.<\/p>\n
Looking back on the health ordeal, the Copacabana hitmaker – who confirmed he is cancer-free three months later – did not think he would battle the disease because he is “too busy” with his illustrious music career.<\/p>\n
Barry told the Los Angeles Times: “I never thought cancer would get me – it wasn\u2019t in the cards. <\/p>\n
“They wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible, so we made a deal: I\u2019d finish the couple of weeks of shows that I had, then I\u2019d go to the hospital, and they\u2019d remove it. <\/p>\n
\n“It was supposed to be a no-brainer – it hadn\u2019t spread yet, thank goodness. But then my AFib kicked in, and acid reflux kicked in, and pneumonia kicked in. They rushed me to the ICU for seven days.”<\/p>\n
\nAsked why the Grammy award winner “never thought cancer would get me”, he explained: “I\u2019m too busy. Pretty stupid. <\/p>\n
\n“What I realised is that I\u2019ve always been the leader – leader of the band, leader of an audience – but I wasn\u2019t the leader of this one. <\/p>\n
\n“That was a big lesson for me. I had to rely on everybody else. Nurses, doctors, friends – you should see some of the notes people have sent.”<\/p>\n
\nBarry – who recalled a doctor saying they “don\u2019t want to lose him” – said the impact of his cancer fight was clear.<\/p>\n
\nThe Mandy singer said: “When they finally brought me back to my lovely room at the Eisenhower [medical center], I weighed 128 pounds.<\/p>\n
\n“I don\u2019t remember ever being 128.”<\/p>\n
\nBarry was forced to postpone multiple concert dates so he could undergo an operation to remove a cancerous spot from one of his lungs.<\/p>\n
\nHe had originally planned to be back on stage in January but five months on, he has still not returned to the stage because his recovery has been taking longer than expected.<\/p>\n
\nAsked what it is like to have not performed to a crowd for a while, the Can’t Smile Without You artist declared: “Agony.”<\/p>\n
\nBarry continued: “Make an album, go on the road, come back, make an album, go on the road – that\u2019s what my life\u2019s been for years. And I like it. Now I just have to get better and do what the doctors are telling me. It\u2019s the only way out.”<\/p>\n
\nBarry previously battled throat cancer following a diagnosis in 2020 but went on to make a recovery.<\/p>\n
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