STATUS QUO Guitarist Is Cancer-Free

December 20, 2005

BBC News is reporting that STATUS QUO's Rick Parfitt does not have cancer, doctors have confirmed after testing growths found on his larynx.

Parfitt, 57, described the news as "the best Christmas present that I could possibly have".

The band was forced to cancel its U.K. tour earlier this month when Parfitt was told he required urgent tests.

But a biopsy confirmed the growths were benign and they have now been removed. He admitted he had been "terrified" at the prospect of a cancer diagnosis.

"It has been an incredibly worrying time for me," the singer and guitarist said.

Parfitt said he had received "literally thousands" of messages of support from STATUS QUO fans.

"This has been a major wake-up call for me and I promise our fans that, after a four-month break, we will more than make it up to them with some very exciting touring plans for the remainder of next year."

The procedure was performed using laser surgery at the Princess Grace Hospital in central London.

"Rick will now spend the holiday period recuperating," said the band's manager, Simon Porter.

Following his cancer scare Parfitt vowed to quit smoking but admitted he was still smoking up to 20 cigarettes a day in the run-up to his surgery.

Parfitt had a quadruple heart bypass operation in 1997 after doctors said he could die at any time.

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