Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones has been given the “all-clear” after a private diagnosis of small-cell cancer, he said in a new interview.
“I had lung cancer in 2017 and I had small-cell more recently that I fought in the last lockdown,” the English guitarist told British tabloid The Sun in a report published Sunday.
Wood, 73, reportedly learned of his small-cell diagnosis during the shutdowns that stemmed from COVID-19, and said a “higher power” helped him through his battle with an aggressive and rare form of the disease.
“I’m going through a lot of problems now, but throughout my recovery, you have to let it go,” Wood told The Sun. “And when you hand the outcome over to your higher power, that is a magic thing.”
A representative for Wood also confirmed his diagnosis to Rolling Stone magazine.
Small-cell refers to the “appearance of the cancer cells under the microscope,” and can affect multiple parts of a person’s body, including the lungs or prostate, the Mayo Clinic says on its website.
Wood previously had a portion of his lung removed during his past battle with lung cancer, before saying in 2018 that he had been cleared of the disease, according to CNN.
The musician joined the Rolling Stones in 1975 and continued to play on albums and tour with the iconic rock group in the decades since.
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