Country music singer Toby Keith, 62, says he had to work to build his diaphragm muscles to sing like he’s widely known for following tough stomach cancer surgery.
Keith was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2021 and has remained largely sidelined since to focus on his health. In addition to surgery, he also underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy to treat his cancer.
He continues to say he’s feeling increasingly better and that his tumor has shrunk since beginning treatment.
Keith has dealt with side effects related to his treatment, which included weight loss.
Country music icon Toby Keith, 62, kickstarted the new year on an emotional high following a successful trio of shows in Las Vegas. Sold-out crowds along the Vegas strip saw Keith perform for the first time in three years amid his stomach cancer diagnosis.
While he is thrilled with how the shows came off, he admitted preparing for them was far from easy. In a new interview on the “Bobby Bones Show,” the “Red Solo Cup” singer admitted stomach cancer surgery affected his diaphragm, which impacted his ability to sing like normal.
“I haven’t worked a handful of shows in the last three years, but I worked every year for 27, 28 years,” Keith said on the popular radio program.
“The only thing that concerned me was being away from it for three years and remembering all the words. They subconsciously come to you when you’re working; you don’t even think about it. You know them. Getting completely away from them and having to start back,” Keith explained.
Further into the segment, Keith describes his health as a “rollercoaster” and that adjusting takes a while.
“The surgery I had on my stomach, they had to stitch on my diaphragm and not using it to sing every night, that is a muscle, you know?” Keith said.
Keith added he had to work hard to strengthen his diaphragm.
“I had to really work that to get it where I sing really, really hard and really violent and loud; I didn’t have that last ten percent on the bottom where I could just belt anything,” Keith said.
He added that he continues to get better all the time.
Helping Patients Find Support During their Journeys
Stomach cancer (also called gastric cancer) starts in the cells lining the stomach, according to the National Cancer Institute. Symptoms may include bloating, indigestion, and loss of appetite. More severe symptoms may include bloody stools and jaundice.
Surgery is commonly undertaken to treat stomach cancer patients. Other forms of treatment may also occur in addition to surgery.
AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 30: Toby Keith performs onstage during the 2021 iHeartCountry Festival Presented By Capital One at The Frank Erwin Center on October 30, 2021, in Austin, Texas. Editorial Use Only. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
While Keith did not say the exact type of stomach cancer surgery he received, a gastrectomy – removal of part or the entire stomach – is the primary form of surgery. According to the National Cancer Institute, partial stomach removal is called a subtotal gastrectomy. A total gastrectomy is the removal of the entire stomach.
Keith’s Cancer Journey
Keith has been battling stomach cancer since 2021. He’s since undergone treatment, which includes chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and immunotherapy. This summer, he revealed he’s feeling pretty good and nearing the end of cancer treatments.
After his diagnosis, he stepped away from the big stage to focus on his health. After nearly two years of battling the disease, the “Red Solo Cup” singer recently revealed he’s “feeling pretty good” in an interview with Country Now.
Country singer Toby Keith’s performance (Instagram/@TobyKeith)
“Basically, everything is in a real positive trend. You never know with cancer, so you have to prepare,” the country singer continued.
Treatment options for stomach cancer may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Your care team will decide the best treatment option depending on your overall health and the maturity of the cancer.
Keith’s treatment has involved chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Chemotherapy involves cancer-killing drugs given to patients orally or intravenously. Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment method that uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. We do not know what kind of chemo or immunotherapy he is receiving at this time.
