(RightIsRight.co) – In a shocking announcement, Bruce Springsteen’s wife, Patti Scialfa, revealed that she has been battling a type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma since 2018.
71-year-old Scialfa disclosed her diagnosis in her husband’s new documentary, “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.”
In the biopic, she shared that her health issues are the main reason she stepped back from performing with the E Street Band.
“Touring has become a challenge for me,” Scialfa explained in the film. “This affects my immune system so I just have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go.”
“Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs on stage, and that’s been a treat,” she added. “That’s the new normal for me right now, and I’m OK with that.”
She also revealed in the documentary that she was diagnosed with blood cancer during the “Springsteen on Broadway” residency.
In addition, the New Jersey native said she has missed most of the E Street Band’s current tour, which started in February 2023 and will continue until July 2025, to focus on her health.
According to the Mayo Clinic, multiple myeloma is a cancer that begins in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell. Symptoms can include bone pain, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, infections, weight loss, and mental fogginess.
Last year, Scialfa stated that her break from touring was also due to working on a solo album and spending time with her and Springsteen’s first grandchild.
“I didn’t feel as needed in a way because there were a lot of musicians on stage,” she said in the October 2023 interview.
Scialfa continued, “And the main thing was I have a record that I couldn’t have finished when Bruce was home because he’s in the studio all the time. So I took that opportunity to do my record.”
Additionally, Springsteen has faced his own challenges during the tour. The “Dancing in the Dark” singer had to postpone his tour dates from September to December 2023 due to peptic ulcer disease.
After a six-month break, the tour resumed in March, although he rescheduled three European shows in May because of “vocal issues.”
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