Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi is continuing his cancer treatements following the band’s recent North American tour in support of “13”, which wrapped up September 3rd in Los Angeles.
“Well we've finished the US leg of our world tour,” writes Iommi. “It was a bit longer than I would have liked, as I've already been in hospital having another infusion. The tour was amazing though, you always hope it's going to go well but you never know, it's great to look out and see so many people of all ages.”
“The new songs have been going down well, we've played them enough now so we're comfortable and that helps the performance,” he adds. “Many thanks to everyone who came to see us, South America next, and just like Australia, this is a first time for Ozzy, Geezer and me together. All the best!”
In January of 2012, Iommi shared the news with fans that he had been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphocytes, a type of cell that forms part of the immune system.
The diagnosis came after bandmate Ozzy Osbourne pestered him to get a pain in his groin checked out. The guitarist thought it might be a recurrence of a prostate problem, and was stunned when he learned he had cancer.
Tony has been receiving regular treatments at the Parkway Hospital in Solihull, England.
“I have to have an antibody administered by drip every six weeks or so to keep the lymphoma in check,” he said earler this spring. “It sort of coats the cancer cells, stops it from going anywhere else. I have to come back home no matter where I might be in the world. The tour dates are arranged so that I can always get back for treatment. It’s the only way I can manage my illness and keep on the road. I’d love to play more shows than we’re doing but my health has to be sorted out first.”
“The infusions I have are part of the chemotherapy regime,” Iommi continued. “It’s relatively new treatment and they don’t know what all the side-effects might be yet, but I wanted to try it. After each session I feel sick and tired, and that lasts for a week or so. I’m finding that it takes around 10 days to fully recover from each round of treatment, but if that’s what it takes, I have to accept it.”
Black Sabbath’s Latin American tour starts in Santiago, Chile on October 4.
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