How is Toby Keith’s health? Singer shares update on stomach cancer
Toby KeithThe country star’s health has been making headlines since he first announced in June 2022 that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. Fans have been eagerly awaiting updates on how the country star is doing and what his prognosis is.
Keith has publicly shared some details about his cancer treatment and appeared to maintain good spirits over the last two years he was treated for the disease. On September 28, he even performed at the People’s Choice Country Awards for the first time since his diagnosis.
Since then, three show evenings that took place in Las Vegas in December 2023 have also been sold out.
The “Red Solo Cup” crooner has made it clear since sharing his news that he intends to perform with his band again soon. Here’s what else we know about Toby Keith’s health and illness.
What illness does Toby Keith have?
Keith announced that he was diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2021.
“I was diagnosed with stomach cancer last fall,” Keith Posted in June 2022 when he finally made his diagnosis public. “I have spent the last six months undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax.”
“I’m looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I’ll see the fans sooner than later. I can barely wait for it.”
Stomach cancer, also known as stomach cancer, occurs when cancer cells develop in any part of the stomach. However, in the United States, it most commonly begins where the esophagus connects to the stomach Mayo Clinic.
There are different types of stomach cancer, depending on where and from what type of cells the cancer cells form. The most common type, according to the National Cancer Instituteis an adenocarcinoma of the stomach that begins in the mucus-producing cells in the innermost lining of the stomach. Most of them are located in the upper part of the stomach, near the esophagus.
Stomach cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and affects men and people of color more often than women or white people. Your risk of stomach cancer may increase due to genetics, certain medical conditions, a diet low in fruits and vegetables and high in processed foods, tobacco use, and your environment.
Common symptoms of stomach cancer include difficulty swallowing, stomach pain, feeling full or full after eating small amounts of food, lack of hunger, nausea, heartburn, indigestion, vomiting, weight loss, fatigue, and black stools.
How is Toby Keith?
Keith is well enough to perform in front of a full audience in December 2023. On November 3, he announced that all three of his shows at the Dolby Live venue in Las Vegas were sold out.
The last time Toby told Keith how he was feeling at the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Sept. 28, he said, “I’m feeling pretty good.”
“It’s a bit of a rollercoaster,” he said go to E! News. “You get good days and, you know, it goes up and down, up and down. It’s always zero to 60 and 60 to zero, but today I feel good.”
He attended the event with his wife Tricia Lucus and was strong enough to perform “Don’t Let the Old Man In” from Clint Eastwood’s film “The Mule.” He said he chose the song because of his cancer.
“I’ve been battling cancer for the last few years and it’s really inspiring for a lot of people,” he said during the NBC pre-show event. “And being on TV again for the first time and performing live in front of a live audience, I thought it was fitting.”
Keith shared back in June 2023 that his cancer was on a “really positive trend” as his tumor had shrunk and that he hoped to be able to function again soon.
The country star first announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer in June 2022, about six months after starting treatment. He first received the diagnosis in fall 2021.
Since then, he has commented several times about his treatment for stomach cancer, noting that the disease can be “stressful” and that he is trying to get back into “fighting shape” in hopes of performing again.
What is Toby Keith’s prognosis?
When Keith first publicly shared his diagnosis, he did not provide a specific prognosis or stage of his cancer, but explained that his treatment would require at least six months of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
The The American Cancer Society explains that for some early-stage stomach cancers, radiation and chemotherapy may be used before surgery “to try to shrink the cancer and make it easier to remove.” Radiation and chemotherapy may also be used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells after surgery.
Most stomach cancers are curable if detected at an early stage. However, most stomach cancers are actually discovered in later stages, making them more difficult to treat, notes the Mayo Clinic.
In June 2023 he told The Oklahoman that his treatments had worked and that his tumor had shrunk by a third and his blood tests showed that his health was moving in the right direction.
“I’m about eight weeks away from my last check-up,” he said. “So I assume that next time I look for this tumor there will be even fewer – and I only have one that was shown. Basically everything is on a positive trend.”
In an interview in December 2022 with “CMT Hot 20 Countdown“He said he was optimistic about his prognosis. “It’s pretty tiring having to go through all this, but as long as everything stays okay, we’ll hope for something good in the future,” he said.
Will Toby Keith tour in 2023?
The country singer will perform three nights in Las Vegas at the end of 2023 – December 10th, 11th and 14th. On November 3rd, he announced on Instagram that all three evenings were already sold out. According to his website, he has no other performance dates other than the three nights in Las Vegas in December 2023.
How old is Toby Keith?
Keith is currently 62 years old.
When he was diagnosed with stomach cancer in fall 2021, he was about 60 years old.
Does Toby Keith have children?
Yes, Keith has three children with his wife Tricia Lucus. The eldest is daughter Shelley Covel Rowland, 43; followed by singer-songwriter and daughter Krystal Keith, 38; and son Stelen Keith Covel, 26.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com