What Is Multiple Myeloma? Everything You Need To Know About Charles Kelley’s Rare Cancer Diagnosis
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Lady A’s Charles Kelley Announces Rare Cancer Diagnosis
Earlier this week, Lady A’s Charles Kelley shared with fans that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
Kelley shared his diagnosis in an Instagram video, revealing that doctors discovered he had multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer, after blood tests following a series of unexplained rib fractures.
“I think in the same spirit of the way we’ve kind of shared a lot of my sobriety journey, just getting this stuff off your chest is so freeing, and it takes the power away from it a little bit that we wanted to let y’all know what was going on,” he shared with fans. “And we’re going to get through it.”
Kelley assured fans that he would still be working and making music during treatment.
“I believe it’s not going to be too super invasive. I can still work,” he said. “I think, physically, I will feel like myself. I’ll have tough days, but you know, I want to keep working.”
You can watch Charles Kelley’s cancer update below.
This isn’t the first health battle Kelley has faced. Back in 2022, the singer entered rehab in Utah for alcohol addiction after years of struggling with his drinking. Lady A postponed its tour so he could seek treatment.
Kelley later said his wife, Cassie, was a major reason he committed to getting sober. He has credited recovery meetings, professional support and putting specific tools in place with helping him maintain his sobriety.
He marked four years of sobriety last month, sharing a before-and-after photo and writing about how much his life has changed since giving up alcohol.
What Is Multiple Myeloma?
According to the Mayo clinic, the rare cancer Kelley has been diagnosed with is “a blood cancer that forms in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell.”
The cancer typically causes abnormal plasma cells to multiply, which can interfere with the body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells and may damage the bones, kidneys and immune system.
Multiple myeloma does not always cause symptoms in its early stages. When symptoms do appear, they can include bone pain, especially in the back, chest or hips, as well as weakened or easily broken bones. People with the condition may also experience fatigue, frequent infections and shortness of breath.
Unlike leukemia and lymphoma, which develop in different blood-forming or immune cells, multiple myeloma begins in plasma cells. While there is currently no cure, treatment can help manage the disease, reduce complications and ease symptoms.
We’re sending our thoughts and prayers to Charles Kelley as he begins his treatment journey.
