Barry Manilow told fans he has cancer in a statement expressing optimism about his prognosis.
“As many of you know I recently went through six weeks of bronchitis followed by a relapse of another five weeks. Even though I was over the bronchitis and back on stage at the Westgate Las Vegas, my wonderful doctor ordered an MRI just to make sure that everything was OK,” the 82-year-old Brooklyn native posted a note on Instagram Monday explaining that his doctor discovered a cancerous spot on his left lung that has to be removed.
According to the “Copacabana” crooner, through “pure luck” the growth was detected early and doesn’t appear to have spread. He said the cancer can be treated with surgery so chemotherapy and radiation won’t be necessary.
“Just chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns,” he reported.
Manilow completed perform his “A Christmas Gift of Love” holiday concert series in California Sunday and plans to return to the stage in February, though his January shows are being postponed while he’s on the mend. He said he’s especially excited about his Valentine’s Day weekend shows at the Las Vegas Westgate Resort.
“Something tells me that February weekend is going to be one big party,” he wrote.
Manilow was born Barry Alan Pincus in Williamsburg. He won his only Grammy Award in 1978, but has enjoyed considerable commercial success with hits including “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs” and “Looks Like We Made It.”
