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The Cure: Keyboardist Roger O’Donnell diagnosed with ‘rare and aggressive’ form of blood cancer
A long-time member of British band The Cure says he has been undergoing treatment for nearly a year after being diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of blood cancer.
Keyboardist Roger O’Donnell, 68, revealed on Instagram that he “ignored the symptoms for a few months” before having a scan and then surgery.
A subsequent biopsy showed in September 2023 he had a “very rare and aggressive form of lymphoma”, with O’Donnell calling the result “devastating”.
O’Donnell in 2013. Pic: AP
The musician, who joined the goth rock band in 1987, added he has “completed 11 months of treatment under some of the finest specialists in the world and with second opinions”.
He had advice from treatment teams, who worked on the cancer drugs he took, along with the latest immunotherapy.
O’Donnell said the “last phase of treatment was radiotherapy”, and he is “fine and the prognosis is amazing”.
In 2019, a previous drummer for the band, Andy Anderson, died at the age of 68 after being diagnosed with cancer.
O’Donnell wrote the message on social media on Sunday as he said September was blood cancer awareness month “so it’s a good opportunity to have a dialogue about these diseases”.
(L-R) The Cure’s Jason Cooper, Simon Gallup, Robert Smith, Roger O’Donnell and Perry Bamonte at Hollywood’s Rockwalk in Los Angeles in 2004. Pic: AP
He went on to say that cancer “can be beaten but if you are diagnosed early enough you stand a way better chance”.
The star urged people to “go get tested, if you have the faintest thought you may have symptoms go and get checked out”.
Blood cancer symptoms can include unexplained weight loss and bruising, breathlessness, rashes, tiredness, and lumps and swellings.
Led by Robert Smith, The Cure was formed in Crawley, West Sussex, in the 1970s.
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The band, which is known for tracks including Boys Don’t Cry and Friday I’m In Love, have also played the Teenage Cancer Trust series of concerts.
O’Donnell left the group in 1990 and then played with them from 1995 until 2005 before rejoining again in 2011.