American country music singer, Toby Keith, has opened up about his health challenge after revealing his stomach cancer diagnosis last year.
Last year, the 62-year-old icon had tweeted: “I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax.” He added that he was looking forward to “spending time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait.”
At the People’s Choice Country Awards on Thursday night, Keith spoke about his diagnosis and what life has been like since.
In an interview with Extra TV, he said: “I’ve walked some dark hallways, [but] the Almighty’s riding shotgun. I feel pretty good. You have good days and bad days.”
He said he was feeling better than he did in 2022.
“It’s a little bit of a roller coaster, but I’m doing better than I was this time last year,” he said.
At the ceremony, Keith accepted the Country Icon award.
According to Mayor clinic, stomach cancer, sometimes called gastric cancer, is caused by a growth of cells in the stomach. It can happen in any part of the stomach. In much of the world, it starts in the main part, called the stomach body, but in the US, it’s more likely to start near the gastroesophageal junction. This part connects the tube that carries swallowed food to the stomach.
Usually, stomach cancer treatment is successful if the cancer hasn’t spread; the prognosis for patients diagnosed with small stomach cancer is typically good. However, stomach cancer can spread by growing through the stomach wall, and many stomach cancers are diagnosed after the disease has become advanced; at this stage, a cure is less likely.