Sir Rod Stewart admits he hid cancer diagnosis – ‘I didn’t want to worry my family!’
Sir Rod Stewart has revealed he kept his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2016 a secret from his children, admitting he “didn’t want to worry them.”
The music legend, now 80, told AARP Magazine that doctors assured him he would recover, so he decided not to share the news with his family at the time.
“I didn’t want to worry them, and I’m all clear now,” he said.
It was not the first time in 2016 that the the singer faced a cancer diagnosis.
Back in 2000, Stewart underwent surgery after doctors discovered a cancerous tumour in his thyroid gland – a procedure he later learned could have cost him his singing voice.
“They didn’t tell me that when I went in for the operation. Only when I came out,” Stewart admitted.
Despite his health battles, Stewart remains fiercely dedicated to staying fit and continuing to perform.
Asked how he maintains his stamina for live shows in Las Vegas, he revealed his long-standing fitness regime
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He said: “I’ve always had a trainer – same guy for 38 years. I have an indoor pool, massive gym, golf course, everything.
“We do a lot of underwater training, where the trainer throws a brick into the pool and I have to dive in, push the brick to the end of the pool, and come up.”
He also credits advice from the late Frank Sinatra, who once told him: “Rod, the secret to being a great singer is having powerful lungs.
“Do lots of underwater swimming, where you hold your breath.”
But Stewart isn’t slowing down. Far from it – he is now on a mission to smash the world record for the fastest 100m sprint by an 80-year-old.
He has been training on a private track at his home and recently cut his time down to 19 seconds after learning to push off properly.
Now, he’s aiming for 17 seconds: “I’m going to try and do 17 seconds, which I think is a world record for an 80-year-old.”
Rod also hit back at critics who suggest he is too old for the stage, insisting he’s determined to keep performing.
Last year, fans were left worried when the singer contracted Covid, forcing him to change up his schedule.
He was scheduled to perform in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and California, but caused concern among fans after making a joke during an interview with The Sun, saying his “days were numbered.”
He later reassured his supporters, clarifying that his comment had been made as a joke.