Former Monkee Peter Tork Has Cancer
March 4 2009, Published 7:29 a.m. ET
Peter Tork, former member of the wildly popular 60's group The Monkees, was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma and will undergo extensive surgery today in New York.
The cancer is uncommon and generally grows slowly on a person's head and neck. It's most frequently found in the salivary glands but in Tork's case was discovered on the lower region of his tongue.
Doctors say preliminary findings from a biopsy show the cancer has not spread beyond the initial site and the 67-year old Tork says his prognosis is good. His surgery will be followed by radiation.
Peter remains cheerful about his condition and hopeful about the future.
"I am extraordinarily grateful, amazed and humbled by the encouragement, affection and support I've received so far," Peter says of the reaction from friends and family to the news of his illness. "Barring any complications, I fully expect to honor a performance date I have this June with (his current band) Shoe Suede Blues," Tork states. "We're appearing in Manchester, Connecticut and I'm looking forward to that and all our tour dates."
As for touring with his Monkees cohorts again?
"Well, never say never," Tork smiles.
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