Jeff Healey, Rock singer (lung cancer)
Ed Varner
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Jeff Healey recovering from lung cancer surgery
January 16, 2007
Canadian Press
Blues-rock singer Jeff Healey is recovering from surgery to remove
cancerous tissue from both lungs.
Healey's publicist says the celebrated blind guitarist underwent a
major operation Thursday and is recuperating in a Toronto hospital with
family at his side.
Richard Flohil says Healey was diagnosed with lung cancer in December
but chose to keep the news private until now.
He says doctors report a successful operation, and notes they caught
the disease early due to regular testing.
Flohil says Healey is in good spirits and eager to return to the stage
soon.
Healey, an occasional smoker, lost his eye sight to retinoblastoma, a
rare form of cancer that left him blind in both eyes by age one.
In the past 18 months, he's also undergone two operations to remove two
sarcomas in his left leg.
"He varies like anybody in this situation between grumpy and depressed
about it to being very positive," Flohil said of Healey's mood. "Most
of the time he's pretty positive."
"As Jeff says, I've had 40 good years, you get a bump every now and
then."
The operation comes just days after Healey celebrated the opening of a
new blues club in the heart of Toronto's entertainment district.
He performed at a gala opening of Jeff Healey's Roadhouse on Jan. 9, an
opening that was originally scheduled for Jan. 10 but moved up to allow
time to prepare for surgery on Jan. 11.
Flohil said Healey was eager to play guitar again with his blues- rock
outfit The Jeff Healey Band and his classic jazz group, Jeff Healey and
the Jazz Wizards, with whom he plays trumpet and guitar.
It wasn't clear how the most recent operation would affect Healey's
ability to play trumpet.