Scary News: Iron Maiden Frontman Bruce Dickinson Battling Tongue Cancer

News out of the UK today revealed that Bruce has a cancerous tumour on the back of his tongue. It was discovered quite a while back and Bruce has just completed a seven week course of treatment. From the Maiden website:

Just before Christmas, Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson visited his doctor for a routine check-up. This led to tests and biopsies which revealed a small cancerous tumour at the back of his tongue. A seven week course of chemotherapy and radiology treatment was completed yesterday. As the tumour was caught in the early stages, the prognosis thankfully is extremely good. Bruce’s medical team fully expect him to make a complete recovery with the all clear envisaged by late May. It will then take a further few months for Bruce to get back to full fitness. In the meantime we would ask for your patience, understanding and respect for Bruce and his family’s privacy until we update everyone by the end of May. Bruce is doing very well considering the circumstances and the whole team are very positive.

The tongue is obviously one of the worst places a cancer can afflict a singer. But it can be beaten. I once met Grant Achatz, the chef at the renown Alinea restaurant in Chicago. Imagine a chef with tongue cancer. But he beat it.

Best wishes to Bruce and his family.