Country music star Toby Keith announced that he has been battling stomach cancer since the fall and has been undergoing treatment for the past six months.
“Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I have had chemo, radiation and surgery for the past 6 months. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax,” he told fans in a statement on his Instagram and Twitter on Sunday.
Keith, 60, closed his statement by saying he is looking forward to spending time with his family but acknowledged that he would “see the fans sooner or later”.
“I can’t wait,” he wrote.
Keith’s celebrity friends, country singers and fans flooded the response with prayers and good wishes.
“Very much your way, Toby 👍❤️,” wrote CMT host Cody Alan.
Keith is touring for his new album and is scheduled to perform in Illinois and Michigan on June 17-18, although no announcements about schedule changes or cancellations have been made.
The “I Love This Bar” crooner founded the Toby Keith Foundation in 2006 to support children battling cancer. Eight years later, Keith’s Foundation opened “a free, convenient and comfortable home for pediatric cancer patients undergoing treatment,” according to its website.
“There is no greater gift than keeping families strong and together during a difficult time,” the foundation’s website reads. “If we can relieve the stress of a family, encourage a sibling and comfort a sick child, we will make a difference in the fight against cancer.”