Legendary country musician Toby Keith refuses to let his battle against stomach cancer hold him back.
In June 2022, Keith publicly revealed his cancer diagnosis and shared that he had been undergoing radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery for the past six months. He stated on Instagram, “I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait.”
True to his word, Keith has continued to make appearances and further his career.
In November 2023, Keith received the 2022 BMI Icon Award at the BMI Country Awards, honoring the songwriters and music publishers behind the top 50 most-performed country songs of the year.
During June, he hosted a live auction as part of the 19th annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic weekend. This charitable event supports the Toby Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral, which offers free lodging to children and their families seeking cancer treatment in Oklahoma City.
Keith provided an exclusive interview to The Oklahoman in June, sharing his positive outlook on his health. He stated, “I’m feeling pretty good… I’m about another eight weeks from my last scan. So, I expect next time I look for that tumor to be even less — and I’ve only got one that’s shown up.”
In September, it was announced that Keith has no intention of stopping his songwriting. He is releasing a new album called ‘Songwriter,’ featuring 13 original hits from his career. The album will be available on November 3.
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In a post to X, Keith expressed his passion for songwriting, saying, “Writing is something that if the music business went completely away tomorrow — radio stations quit existing and music quit being popular and it was old hat — I would still write songs.”
Now, Keith is set to perform at the inaugural “People’s Choice Country Awards,” where he will also receive the “Country Icon” award.
Here is what we know about Keith’s battle with stomach cancer.
What is stomach cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society, stomach cancer occurs when cells in the stomach begin to grow uncontrollably. Unlike other types of cancer that can affect neighboring organs like the colon, liver, or pancreas, stomach cancer has its own unique symptoms, prognosis, and treatments.
Stomach cancer typically develops slowly over time, with pre-cancerous changes in the stomach’s inner lining often going unnoticed due to a lack of symptoms.
What causes stomach cancer?
Various risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing stomach cancer, including age, gender, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and more. While some factors can be controlled, others cannot. It remains unclear how exactly different factors contribute to the development of stomach cancer cells.
Research into stomach cancer is ongoing and continually expanding our understanding of the disease.
Is there a cure for stomach cancer?
Treatment for stomach cancer often involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy.
The most effective approach to treatment often involves utilizing multiple types of treatment methods. The specific treatment received depends on factors such as the cancer’s location and stage.
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What does Toby Keith say about his cancer treatment?
In an exclusive interview with The Oklahoman in June, Keith provided an update on his cancer journey, stating that he is continuing with chemotherapy and his blood tests have been positive.
Keith expressed his optimism, saying, “Basically, everything is in a real positive trend. You never know with cancer, so you have to prepare. But my goal is, I feel better; I’ve got more wind. And I’m thinking about bringing the band in and setting up, playing two or three days somewhere just to see if I can get through two hours.”
“And if I do, (I’ll) be out on the road this fall.”
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana
