In an interview with Event magazine, Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood revealed he was diagnosed with lung cancer in May. The musician underwent a surgery to remove part of his lung and it’s now ok.
In the interview, Wood also discussed his new book, the recently welcomed baby twins, and his past struggles.
Battled a “touch of lung cancer”
The Rolling Stones‘ Ronnie Wood revealed in a new interview that he recently battled a “touch of lung cancer”. The guitarist required an operation to remove a part of his lung.
“There was a week when everything hung in the balance and it could have been curtains. Time to say goodbye,” Wood said of the diagnosis, which he kept a secret.
Wood found out he had cancer in May when the Rolling Stones were undergoing physicals ahead of their upcoming European tour. He got an extensive check-up.
“He asked me what I wanted to do and my answer was simple: Just get it out of me.'”
They feared cancer could spread to his lymph nodes. Fortunately, that was not the case. Wood revealed he kept it secret to spare “the hell he was going through.”
Thankfully, tests revealed that it did not spread, with a five-hour procedure needed to remove the problem.
“I’m OK now. But I’m going to have a check-up every three months. I was bloody lucky but then I’ve always had a very strong guardian angel looking out for me. By rights, I shouldn’t be here.”
In March 2016, former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman announced he was battling prostate cancer and that he expected to make a full recovery.
Life after cancer
Though the lung cancer diagnosis was scary, Wood says it did not come as a total surprise after 50 years of chain-smoking.
But now, at his 70 years, Wood is a new man. He quit cigarettes one week before the birth of his year-old twin daughters in May 2016 and claims he now spends his time parenting
“I love having my girls with me as much as possible. I’m very hands-on. I’m a dab hand at changing nappies and burping,” he said.
The musician said he also spends his time cooking and indulging in his “last vice,” soda.
The interview also covers Wood’s past struggles with substance abuse, his relationship with wife Sally Humphreys, and the publication of a new book, ‘Ronnie Wood: Artist’, about his second career as a painter.
Source: Stuff