Last December, New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert shared how he had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called pheochromocytoma, and in a new update on his health, he's shared how some recent tour dates led to the discovery of a tumour in his spine.
In an Instagram post yesterday (August 15), Gilbert recalled how he was "having really intense bad back pain on tour (which can happen from jumping around carrying a heavy guitar)," leading him to fly home for an MRI. Following his December diagnosis, the artist underwent surgery and declared himself "cancer free" in late January.
"Unfortunately we found a new Pheochromocytoma tumour in the 12th vertebrae of my spine pinching on my nerve bad," Gilbert wrote. "I'll be headed into surgery tomorrow to get almost all of it out then hit what's left with some fancy radiation. Scary stuff but it's all about the little wins.
"Each day we've been having fun in the hospital and feel lucky with so many things and God's timing with all of this. If I didn't go on tour and inflame my tumour, I wouldn't have known early enough it was there! Then my band's love and support got me home to get scanned. Knowing me, if pain is making me not play a show, it's bad."
Gilbert also revealed the discovery of "very tiny nodules on my lungs," but writes that he feels "very confident that it's manageable and at an early stage compared to where I was last time. My vitals and heart are great this time. Moving forward with today's amazing technology, I can be on a lifelong treatment that just keeps it all at bay. Like living with an illness but it's not life-threatening. I no longer have to guess if it will return and can just relax."
The guitarist also offered words on the mental aspect of "struggling with intense health issues and disease," writing, "Do your best to make the most of it and try not to waste too much time on fear. Process your emotions but no one's time is ever certain, with or without good health. We are all the same. Try to love and impact where you're at and what's around you and look for the depth of the people around you. See how incredible it is that all these people have been on their own journeys and are now connected to you for some reason. From doctors to nurses to the person cleaning your hospital room, everyone's story is impactful."
We'd like to wish Gilbert and his family the best during treatment and recovery. The guitarist and his New Found Glory bandmates delivered 10th album Forever + Ever × Infinity in 2020, and followed that with holiday collection December's Here last year.
In an Instagram post yesterday (August 15), Gilbert recalled how he was "having really intense bad back pain on tour (which can happen from jumping around carrying a heavy guitar)," leading him to fly home for an MRI. Following his December diagnosis, the artist underwent surgery and declared himself "cancer free" in late January.
"Unfortunately we found a new Pheochromocytoma tumour in the 12th vertebrae of my spine pinching on my nerve bad," Gilbert wrote. "I'll be headed into surgery tomorrow to get almost all of it out then hit what's left with some fancy radiation. Scary stuff but it's all about the little wins.
"Each day we've been having fun in the hospital and feel lucky with so many things and God's timing with all of this. If I didn't go on tour and inflame my tumour, I wouldn't have known early enough it was there! Then my band's love and support got me home to get scanned. Knowing me, if pain is making me not play a show, it's bad."
Gilbert also revealed the discovery of "very tiny nodules on my lungs," but writes that he feels "very confident that it's manageable and at an early stage compared to where I was last time. My vitals and heart are great this time. Moving forward with today's amazing technology, I can be on a lifelong treatment that just keeps it all at bay. Like living with an illness but it's not life-threatening. I no longer have to guess if it will return and can just relax."
The guitarist also offered words on the mental aspect of "struggling with intense health issues and disease," writing, "Do your best to make the most of it and try not to waste too much time on fear. Process your emotions but no one's time is ever certain, with or without good health. We are all the same. Try to love and impact where you're at and what's around you and look for the depth of the people around you. See how incredible it is that all these people have been on their own journeys and are now connected to you for some reason. From doctors to nurses to the person cleaning your hospital room, everyone's story is impactful."
We'd like to wish Gilbert and his family the best during treatment and recovery. The guitarist and his New Found Glory bandmates delivered 10th album Forever + Ever × Infinity in 2020, and followed that with holiday collection December's Here last year.
