Just weeks after canceling her spring 2011 tour dates, legendary singer Aretha Franklin has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, reports The Detroit News. While an official announcement is still forthcoming, “a close relative” reportedly confirmed the news.
Ever worse, The Detroit News quotes Dr. Diane Simeone, director of the multidisciplinary Pancreatic Tumor Clinic at the University of Michigan, as saying it is the only major cancer with a prognosis in the single digits, and those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have a 5 percent chance of living five years. “It has the worst prognosis of any major human malignancy. It is the most dreaded cancer to get.”
Fortunately, Franklin can look to Apple CEO Steve Jobs and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who have both recovered from pancreatic cancer.
Our best wishes go out to Franklin and her family. As always, stay tuned for more updates as they’re announced.
