Music Legend Barry Manilow Scheduled for an Operation for Lung Cancer.

Barry Manilow has revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer of the lung and is set to have surgery.

Cancer Caught Early

The octogenarian performer, known for a string of beloved anthems from "I Write the Songs" established him as one of pop music’s enduringly popular performers, will have a procedure to take out a section of lung tissue in an effort to fight off the illness, which is at an early phase.

“For those who have been following, I recently endured six weeks of bronchitis followed by a recurrence of another five weeks.

“Although I was over the bronchitis and back on stage for my residency, my excellent physician ordered an MRI just to ensure that there were no issues.

“The MRI detected a tumor on my left lung that must be removed. It’s pure luck (and a skilled doctor) that it was caught so early.”

Rescheduled Shows

He has postponed a number of forthcoming concerts, but indicated he would be returning to perform by Valentine’s Day for his long-running concert series in Las Vegas.

He continued: “The medical team do not believe it has metastasized and I’m taking tests to verify their assessment. So, that’s it. No chemotherapy. No radiation. Just home remedies and classic TV.

“I’m eagerly awaiting until I rejoin my second home in Las Vegas for our Valentine’s weekend concerts.”

Professional and Personal Journey

Manilow is presently in his 16th year of a show on the Las Vegas Strip. The singer has spent decades in the spotlight and publicly identified as gay in 2017, after wedding his partner of many years, Garry Kief privately in 2014.

The pair were in a clandestine partnership for more than 35 years. Last year, Manilow reflected on how crucial his husband had been to him during his rise to peak fame in the 1970s.

“During my rapid rise to fame, it was just overwhelming. And, you know, coming home to an lonesome hotel suite, you can find yourself in a lot of trouble if you, you know, you’re alone repeatedly,” he said.

“But I encountered my future husband right around when it was taking off. And I was spared from having to go back to those lonesome rooms. I had a person to share sorrows with or to enjoy success with.

“I hope that aspiring artists don’t have to go back to those rooms by themselves, because you can make poor choices. I never did. But it was pretty lonely until I met Garry. And then it was fun.”