Toby Keith Shares Stomach Cancer Update: "It's Pretty Debilitating"

Country singer Toby Keith is updating fans on his battle with cancer. The 61-year-old was diagnosed with stomach cancer in fall 2021, and first revealed what was happening in June 2022, when he announced he would be stepping back from music for treatment. "Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer," he said at the time. "I've spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax. I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can't wait." In an upcoming interview with Country Music Television, Keith speaks out about his journey so far, saying, "I need a little bit of time to just rest up and heal up. It's pretty debilitating to have to go through all that, but as long as everything stays hunky-dory, then we'll look at something good in the future."

Keith's optimism about the future is backed up by encouraging statistics concerning stomach cancer. "Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, can happen in any part of the stomach," says Mayo Clinic oncologist Dr. Bassam Sonbol. "However, in the US, most stomach cancers occur in the gastroesophageal junction, which is where the esophagus – the tube that carries chewed up food – meets the stomach. There are several different types of stomach cancers, but most are curable if detected at an early stage. 

"What once was the leading cause of cancer death is now well down on the list thanks to the advancement in technology and scientific research. In fact, new cases of stomach cancers have dropped by about 1.5% every year for the last 10 years." Here are five things to know about stomach cancer, according to medical experts. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.