Sharon Jones - P 2013
Getty ImagesDap-Kings singer Sharon Jones has been diagnosed with stage-one bile duct cancer. The singer announced that doctors caught the tumor early before it could spread and that she’ll be having surgery soon.
“Over the last few weeks I haven’t felt good and I didn’t know what was going on,” she she said in a statement to fans on Monday morning.
The invasive nature of the surgery means there will be a lengthy recovery time for Jones, 57. Her band has canceled all summer concert dates, which run until late August, and will also push the release date of their sixth album, Give the People What They Want, which was slated to release on Aug. 6.
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Jones said that she’ll be updating fans as she recovers that she’s “looking forward to getting back on the road to give the people what they want!”
According to the American Cancer Society, between 2,000-3,000 people are diagnosed with bile-duct cancer each year in the United States. Last month, the cancer, which affects the tube connecting the liver to the small intestine, claimed the life of Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek.
Read Jones’ full statement below:
“Over the last few weeks I haven’t felt good and I didn’t know what was going on. We sadly had to cancel shows while I went through a series of tests and short hospital stays. We just found out that I have a stage-one tumor on my bile duct. Luckily we caught it really early and fast and the doctors say it’s operable and curable! I will be having surgery very soon and will have to rest and recover. I’ll be staying in touch and keeping my fans and friends updated on my progress. I’m looking forward to getting back on the road to give the people what they want!”
