The Cure keyboardist Roger O’Donnell revealed his lymphoma diagnosis in a series of posts Sunday on X in honor of September's being Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
"In September last year I was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of lymphoma," O'Donnell wrote. "I had ignored the symptoms for a few months but finally went and after surgery the result of the biopsy was devastating."
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's immune system responsible for fighting disease. Symptoms of lymphoma include fever; fatigue; painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the groin, neck, armpits and belly; losing weight without trying; and itchy skin, according to MayoClinic.org.
"Im fine and the prognosis is amazing," he said about his condition now. "the mad axe murderer knocked on the door and we didnt answer."
O'Donnell warned those who may be feeling symptoms of blood cancer to get tested as soon as possible.
"Cancer CAN be beaten but if you are diagnosed early enough you stand a way better chance, so all I have to say is go GET TESTED, if you have the faintest thought you may have symptoms go and get checked out," he wrote.
He also encouraged fans who know someone who is sick to talk to them, adding that "every single word helps."
O'Donnell joined the English band The Cure in 1987 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the group in 2019. He performed with the band during its North American tour last year before he pulled out of the Latin American tour because of "health reasons in November, Rolling Stone reported.
The Cure keyboardist Roger O’Donnell has revealed he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer. The musician, 68, says he “ignored the symptoms for a few months” before a biopsy in 2023 showed he had a rare type of lymphoma.
A previous drummer for the band, Andy Anderson, died aged 68 in 2019 after being diagnosed with cancer.
On Instagram on Sunday, London-born O’Donnell wrote: “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 and with second opinions”, and had advice from treatment teams who worked on the cancer drugs he took, along with the latest immunotherapy.
O’Donnell said the “last phase of treatment was radiotherapy”, and he is “fine and the prognosis is amazing”.
He added: “Cancer can be beaten but if you are diagnosed early enough you stand a way better chance, so all I have to say is go get tested, if you have the faintest thought you may have symptoms go and get checked out.
“Lastly if you know someone who is ill or suffering talk to them, every single word helps, believe me I know.”
Signing off, the musician thanked his partner Mimi and his medical team.
According to Blood Cancer UK, symptoms can include unexplained weight loss and bruising, breathlessness, rashes, tiredness and lumps and swellings.
The Cure, known for the tracks Boys Don’t Cry and Friday I’m In Love, have also played the Teenage Cancer Trust series of concerts.
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 members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Cure’s longtime keyboardist Roger O’Donnell revealed Saturday that he has spent the past year fighting “a very rare and aggressive form of lymphoma,” but added he is now doing “fine and the prognosis is amazing.”
“I had ignored the symptoms for a few months but finally went and after surgery the result of the biopsy was devastating,” O’Donnell wrote.
“I’ve now completed 11 months of treatment under some of the finest specialists in the world and with second opinions and advice from the teams that had developed the drugs I was being given. I had the benefit of the latest sci fi immunotherapy and some drugs that were first used 100 years ago. The last phase of treatment was radiotherapy which also was one of the first treatments developed against cancer.”
O’Donnell — who joined the Cure in 1987, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2019, and performed live on the Cure’s North American tour last year before then-unspecified “health reasons” forced him to miss the band’s Latin American tour in November 2023 — opened up about his own cancer battle in an effort to encourage fans to get tested.
“Cancer CAN be beaten but if you are diagnosed early enough you stand a way better chance, so all I have to say is go GET TESTED, if you have the faintest thought you may have symptoms go and get checked out,” O’ Donnell wrote.
“I’m fine and the prognosis is amazing. The mad axe murderer knocked on the door and we didn’t answer.”
Roger O'Donnell -- the longtime keyboard player for The Cure -- has blood cancer ... revealing the startling news a year after he was first diagnosed.
The musician took to X Sunday for Blood Cancer Awareness month ... and, he says he wants to make sure people are having dialogues about these deadly diseases.
O'Donnell reveals he was diagnosed with lymphoma -- a type of blood cancer -- in September 2023 ... saying he'd ignored his symptoms for a while before finally going to see a doctor when he found out about the cancer.
While at first devastated, Roger says he's now feeling fine and has a great prognosis ... this after undergoing multiple rounds of treatment.
Roger's big advice for people ... get tested early -- 'cause people have a better chance of beating cancer if they act quickly.
He's also encouraging fans to reach out to ill friends and family ... 'cause kind words can make all the difference to someone struggling with their health. He thanks his loved ones and the medical professionals who helped him through the process.
Roger was on tour with The Cure from May to September of last year ... and, it seems he received his diagnosis right after it ended. He joined the group back in 1987 playing with them across multiple stints over the years.
The Cure doesn't have any upcoming concert dates ... unclear if O'Donnell will be ready to go on the road with the band when they do schedule their next show.
