Singer Michael Bolton is opening up about his battle with brain cancer.
In an interview with People Magazine, his family said Bolton started having unusual symptoms before his diagnosis in 2023.
In addition to headaches and nausea, they said that one night while bowling, he was completely unaware that he kept bowling out of turn. Later that night, he fell out of his chair.
They then insisted he see a doctor, and that’s when an MRI confirmed the presence of a brain tumor.
Bolton, 72, was diagnosed with glioblastoma and underwent emergency surgery in December 2023, where doctors removed the tumor. He underwent a second brain surgery in January 2024 because of an infection, the outlet said.
In October, he completed his chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He’s had to undergo scans every two months to make sure the tumor hasn’t returned. His latest scan was in April and it was “clear.”
The singer-songwriter told the magazine that his short-term memory, speech and mobility have been affected by the treatments.
“You’re reaching into your resources and your resolve in a way that you never would have thought,” Bolton said. “Succumbing to the challenge is not an option. You’re really quickly drawn into a duel. I guess that’s the way you find out what you’re made of.”
“Glioblastoma (also known as Glioblastoma multiforme or GBM) is the most aggressive type of tumor that arises in the brain. It is one of the most lethal forms of brain cancer,” according to the Glioblastoma Foundation.
“Whenever you find yourself in any kind of challenging position, just to know that you’re not alone going through it is a big deal,” he continued. “It actually helps people to know. It reminds them that they’re not alone.”
May is brain cancer and brain tumor awareness month in the U.S.
