Michael Bolton breaks silence on incurable brain cancer diagnosis
Singer opens on glioblastoma battle
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Michael Bolton is opening up on his battle with glioblastoma — a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer he was diagnosed with in 2023.
In a new interview with PEOPLE, the 72-year-old singer-songwriter says that he has a “a heightened sense of appreciation” for life after he learned he had been stricken with the disease.
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Doctors were able to remove a brain tumour in its entirety during an emergency operation in December 2023. Bolton underwent a second brain surgery in January 2024 that was followed by a round of radiation and chemotherapy treatments that ended last October.
The crooner now undergoes MRIs every two months to check that the tumour hasn’t returned (according to the Glioblastoma Foundation, the recurrence rate for glioblastoma is about 90%).
Bolton “has purposely not been given a prognosis” and the two-time Grammy winner maintains an optimistic outlook.
“You’re reaching into your resources and your resolve in a way that you never would have thought,” the father of three told the outlet. “Succumbing to the challenge is not an option. You’re really quickly drawn into a duel. I guess that’s the way you find out what you’re made of.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, there’s no cure for glioblastoma, which affects the brain or spinal cord.
Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie announced he was battling the same type of incurable brain cancer back in 2016 after suffering a seizure.
Glioblastoma affects about two to three people per 100,000 in Canada, the United States and Europe, according to Sunnybrook Hospital. It’s the same type of brain tumour that afflicted Ted Kennedy, actress Ethel Merman, Rush drummer Neil Peart and former Montreal Expos player Gary Carter.
Glioblastomas account for about 15% of all primary brain tumours.
According to the National Brain Tumor Society, the average length of survival for most patients is estimated to be about eight months. The five-year survival rate for glioblastoma patients is only 6.9%.
Bolton first spoke about his illness in a January 2024 Instagram post in which he said he’d undergone brain surgery and pausing his plans to tour.
“It is always the hardest thing for me to ever disappoint my fans or postpone a show, but I have no doubt I am working hard to accelerate my recovery and get back to performing soon,” the How Am I Supposed To Live Without You? hitmaker wrote at the time.
PEOPLE reported that Bolton’s short-term memory, speech and mobility have been affected by his cancer treatments. But the musician is leaning on other patients for support.
“Whenever you find yourself in any kind of challenging position, just to know that you’re not alone going through it is a big deal,” Bolton said. “It actually helps people to know. It reminds them that they’re not alone.”
Bolton’s daughter Taryn says his family is “in this together, and that’s it.”
According to the outlet, Bolton is spending time with his daughters and his six grandchildren at his home in Westport, Conn. He still tries to golf regularly, works with a personal trainer and takes voice lessons.
“I find comfort in general more easily. (The whole experience) gives me a heightened sense of appreciation,” he tells PEOPLE. “It’s unthinkable for it to be okay not to make the most of your life,” he says. “I think we develop capabilities and problem management, and we learn how to make the best out of a bad situation. You have to be a cheerleader for yourself.”
And he’s trying to leave a message of positivity for his loved ones.
“It’s a reality of mortality. Suddenly a new light has gone on that raises questions, including ‘Am I doing the best that I can do with my time?’” he says. “I want to keep going. I feel there’s still a lot to do on the fight side. I got a title for a song: Ain’t Going Down Without a Fight.”
On Instagram, Bolton shared a link to his PEOPLE interview and told his 286,000 followers that he hopes his experience “might offer comfort to other families facing similar challenges, and perhaps even inspire those navigating their own adversity.”
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