Bruce Dickinson Cancer-Free: Iron Maiden Singer Declared Free From Tongue Cancer After MRI
Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of highly successful heavy metal band Iron Maiden, took to the band’s website this afternoon to give his fans some good news. After months of chemotherapy and treatment for a cancerous tumor on the back of his tongue, Bruce has been declared cancer-free.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Dickinson’s cancer had been diagnosed just before Christmas 2014, and Bruce successfully completed seven rounds of chemotherapy and radiology to combat the tumor. A recent MRI found no trace of the cancer, and so doctor’s declared him completely cancer-free. On the band’s website, Bruce took a moment to thank those who he felt made his recovery possible: the medical team, his family, and of course, Iron Maiden’s legion of fans.
“I would like to thank the fantastic medical team who have been treating me for the last few months,” Dickinson wrote, “resulting in this amazing outcome. It’s been tough on my family and in many ways it was harder for them than me. I’d also like to send a heartfelt thanks to all our fans for their kind words and thoughts.”
Dickinson continues his cancer-free update to reaffirm his belief in the power of positivity, and let everyone know that he’s hoping to get back to fronting Iron Maiden as soon as possible, “I’m a firm believer in trying to maintain a positive attitude, and the encouragement from the global Maiden family meant a great deal to me. Right now, I’m feeling extremely motivated and can’t wait to get back to business as usual, as soon as I can!”
Though initially Dickinson and his bandmates were hoping to set out on tour sometime after May of this year — their last tour ended in July of 2014 — the band’s manager, Rod Smallwood continued the update to let Maiden’s fans know that though Bruce is feeling better, a tour would have to wait.
“We are of course all absolutely delighted that Bruce’s doctors have pronounced him free of cancer. Although Bruce is naturally eager to resume Maiden activities, it will take a while before he is completely back to full strength. Because of this, the band will not be touring or playing any shows until next year. We know our fans will understand the situation and, like us, would prefer to wait until Bruce is back to his usual indefatigable levels of fitness before going out on the road.”
Bittersweet, to be sure, for Bruce Dickinson fans, and Iron Maiden fans as a whole, who are both happy that the voice of Maiden is cancer-free, and upset to have to wait another year to see them live. Smallwood promises, though, that the release of the band’s next album, which they’re working on right now, “will definitely be this year.”
[Photo Credit: Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images]
