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Toby Keith has died following a battle with abdomen most cancers on February 5, 2024. He was 62. Toby had been identified with the illness in fall 2021, however he didn’t reveal the information publicly till June 2022. He revealed that he was present process remedies, together with chemotherapy and radiation, and he introduced that he would take day without work to spend it together with his household.
Toby’s household introduced his passing in a submit on X. “Toby Keith paced peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family,” the message mentioned. “He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
Learn extra in regards to the nation singer’s well being and what else he’s shared earlier than his tragic passing.
Toby Keith Diagnosed With Stomach Cancer
Toby took to social media in June 2022 to share the submit above to tell his followers that he was identified with abdomen most cancers within the fall of 2021. “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 wrote within the message earlier than then assuring followers he could be again on stage as soon as he was feeling higher. “I am looking forward to spending time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait. -T,” he added.
The singer obtained an outpouring of assist from his followers and fellow nation music stars on-line. Two days later, he wrote a message of due to these displaying him love. “Thank you for all your love and support,” Toby gushed. “I have the best fans in the world.”
By the time Toby had gone public together with his information, he had already been battling most cancers for six months and was capable of maintain the information out of the general public eye for that point. He continued to combat the illness privately after that, together with his Instagram web page solely together with throwback images and movies, versus any new pics.
What Is Stomach Cancer?
“Stomach cancer, which is also called gastric cancer, is a growth of cells that starts in the stomach,” in accordance with the Mayo Clinic. The abdomen is positioned within the higher center a part of the stomach, slightly below the ribs, and helps to interrupt down and digest meals. “In most of the world, stomach cancers happen in the main part of the stomach,” the Mayo Clinic additionally states.
The web site additionally says that, within the United States, abdomen most cancers is extra more likely to begin by the gastroesophageal junction. This is the half the place the lengthy tube that carries meals you swallow meets the abdomen. The tube that carries meals to the abdomen known as the esophagus.”
Treatment will depend on the stage of the most cancers, which is decided by whether or not or not it’s positioned simply within the abdomen. Some of the remedy choices that could be used embrace radiation remedy, surgical procedure, chemotherapy, focused remedy, and immunotherapy. The prognosis will depend on the place the most cancers cells are. For individuals with solely small abdomen cancers, the possibilities of the remedy working are “quite good,” in accordance with Mayo Clinic. It might even treatment the illness utterly if caught and handled early sufficient.
Symptoms of abdomen most cancers can embrace bother swallowing, stomach ache, feeling full after consuming small quantities of meals, shedding weight, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, and extra.
How Long Has Toby Keith Been Sick?
Toby was first identified within the fall of 2021 and began receiving remedy quickly after. It’s unclear if he was experiencing signs earlier than his analysis or if he skilled negative effects of the remedy, however he knowledgeable his followers months after he came upon he was battling the illness. He additionally admitted it was “pretty debilitating” to undergo it, in an interview with the CMT Hot 20 Countdown in Nov. 2022. However, he didn’t specify what he skilled earlier than his analysis and throughout his remedy.
What Updates Did Toby Give Prior to His Death?
Toby gave an replace on his situation in November 2022. “I’m thinking about getting back to fightin’ shape,” he advised CMT Hot 20 Countdown’s Cody Alan on the time. “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.”
The interview occurred after he gave a shock efficiency at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse in Lexington, Kentucky, whereas he was on the town for the Breeders’ Cup in early Nov. 2022. While wanting thinner, he sang the songs, “I Love This Bar,” Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama,” and Otis Redding‘s “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay.” It was his first public look since going public with information of his most cancers.
In early June 2023, Toby hosted his annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Tournament, so he was again within the public eye as soon as once more. He shared a uncommon, new picture to Instagram on the time, and followers had been joyful to see him smiling and trying to be in good spirits. At a gala for the event, he additionally spoke to The Oklahoman about his situation, the place he mentioned he was “feeling pretty good” on the time. “Basically, everything is in a real positive trend,” he shared. “You never know with cancer, so you have to prepare.”
While work was nonetheless on the back-burner for Toby on the time, he did say he hoped to hit the highway and tour by the tip of the yr. “I’ve got more wind [now],” he mentioned. “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. All I gotta do is see if I can get through two or three nights of work and get a little break in this chemo, and we’ll go back to work. I’m ready.”
Toby confirmed that he was nonetheless having chemotherapy remedies on the time, however shared that his tumor had already shrunk to a 3rd of its unique measurement. “I’m about another eight weeks from my last scan,” he defined, within the June 2023 interview. “So I expect next time I look for that tumor to be even less. And I’ve only got one that’s shown up.”
Later that month, Toby returned to the stage at his bar in Oklahoma, Hollywood Corners, for back-to-back reveals on June 30 and July 1. While the reveals had been supposed to simply be rehearsals for Toby to check out the waters, he wound up performing full units on each nights. “Toby’s first rehearsal turned into a 2 1/2 hour pop up show,” a caption for images from the present learn. “He sang all the hits plus the Bus Songs…Toby is back!”
In a September 28, 2023 interview, Toby shared a constructive replace forward of receiving the Country Icon Award on the People’s Choice Country Awards. “I feel pretty good,” he advised E! News. “It’s a little bit of a roller coaster. You get good days and, you know, you’re up and down, up and gown. It’s always zero to 60 and 60 to zero but I feel good today.”
Unfortunately, Toby died following his battle with most cancers on Monday, February 5, 2024.
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