Former Monkee and '60s pop star Peter Tork has announced he's been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Tork, 67, broke the news on his website earlier this week, explaining that he has a slow-growing form of head and neck cancer called Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.
"It's a bad news, good news situation," Tork said. "It's so rare a combination (on the tongue) that there isn't a lot of experience among the medical community about this particular combination. On the other hand, the type of cancer it is, never mind the location, is somewhat well known, and the prognosis, I'm told, is good."
Tork underwent surgery Wednesday (March 4), the Hartford Courant reports, and Tork's spokesperson said the surgery went "very well," with the musician now planning to soon begin radiation treatment.
"Peter is most, most grateful for the love and support he's gotten from family, friends and fans," said the spokeswoman said. "Overwhelmed and grateful, he said."
Tork rose to fame as an actor and musician as part of the made-for-TV Monkees in the mid- to late '60s. He has since participated in several Monkees reunions and now fronts the band Shoe Suede Blues.
"It's a bad news, good news situation," Tork said. "It's so rare a combination (on the tongue) that there isn't a lot of experience among the medical community about this particular combination. On the other hand, the type of cancer it is, never mind the location, is somewhat well known, and the prognosis, I'm told, is good."
Tork underwent surgery Wednesday (March 4), the Hartford Courant reports, and Tork's spokesperson said the surgery went "very well," with the musician now planning to soon begin radiation treatment.
"Peter is most, most grateful for the love and support he's gotten from family, friends and fans," said the spokeswoman said. "Overwhelmed and grateful, he said."
Tork rose to fame as an actor and musician as part of the made-for-TV Monkees in the mid- to late '60s. He has since participated in several Monkees reunions and now fronts the band Shoe Suede Blues.