Janet Jackson Cancer Scare: Singer Gets Tested for Potential Throat Surgery; 'Unbreakable' Tour on Hold
- comments
-
After announcing that her "Unbreakable" tour was going to be postponed, it was revealed that Janet Jackson might be undergoing throat surgery to remove a tumor.
The 49-year-old Grammy-winning singer first posted a message on her Instagram about a potential surgery, but the details of her condition have only been confirmed Tuesday. "Doctors found a growth on Janet's vocal cords that could be serious," said a source via Radar Online. "It's a medical condition that has to be taken care of immediately."
Janet's doctors are hoping that the tumor won't turn out to be cancer of the larynx, which could put an end to the singer's career. For now, she is undergoing tests to help doctors determine their next steps.
Cancer of the larynx is aggravated by smoking and alcohol-drinking and the chances of recovery depends on factors like the size, location and grade of the tumor and the stage of the disease, per National Cancer Institute.
"Surgery would be very complex, and followed by months of radiation treatment," said Dr. Stuart Fischer in the Radar report. The patient might also be in need of an artificial voice box in order to speak.
Back in October, Janet was forced to go on vocal rest, thus canceling out scheduled performances in Salt Lake City and Denver, per Billboard. But, the severity of her condition has not yet been known at that time.
Despite the state of her health, Janet is said continue being upbeat and positive and is even making plans to resume touring in the spring or summer. However, she's also asking her fans and followers for help. "Please pray for me, my family and our entire company during this difficult time. I love you all so much and am ever grateful for your understanding and your love," she said on Instagram.
A photo posted by Janet Jackson (@janetjackson) on Dec 24, 2015 at 2:18pm PST
Being one of the most successful pop artists in the music industry, Janet's career spans more than thirty years. Aside from being known as Michael Jackson's kid sister, Janet is the "only artist having Grammy nominations spanning the Dance, Pop, Rap, Rock, and R&B categories," as listed on her official site. The singer also dabbled in acting and speaking engagements for the charity causes she supports.
"I'm proud to have stayed in the game and survived. And I'm proud that I've remained true to myself. But if you go back and listen to the music, you'll hear how that self is always changing," she stated on her site.
