The Cure’s Roger O’Donnell, 68, reveals he is fighting ‘rare and aggressive’ blood cancer

The Cure’s keyboardist Roger O’Donnell has revealed he has been fighting cancer.

The musician, 68, has told fans how he was diagnosed with a ‘very rare and aggressive form’ of lymphoma and has been undergoing treatment for the past year.

O’Donnell shared an update on social media to mark Blood Cancer Awareness Month as he urged others not to ignore symptoms, as he had done. 

Writing on X alongside a picture with his partner Mimi, he said: ‘In September last year I was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of lymphoma.

‘I had ignored the symptoms for a few months but finally went for a scan and after surgery the result of the biopsy was devastating.

The Cure’s keyboardist Roger O’Donnell has revealed he has been fighting cancer

The musician, 68, has told fans how he was diagnosed with a ‘very rare and aggressive form’ of lymphoma and has been undergoing treatment for the past year

‘I’ve now completed 11 months of treatment under some of the finest specialists in the world and with second opinions and advice from the teams that had developed the drugs I was being given.

‘I had the benefit of the latest sci fi immunotherapy and some drugs that were first used 100 years ago. The last phase of treatment was radiotherapy which also was one of the first treatments developed against cancer.

O’Donnell explained how the treatment has been a success, reassuring fans: ‘Im fine and the prognosis is amazing.’

‘The mad axe murderer knocked on the door and we didn’t answer,’ he added.

Pleading with his fans to seek help if they have symptoms, he added: ‘Cancer CAN be beaten but if you are diagnosed early enough you stand a way better chance, so all I have to say is go GET TESTED, if you have the faintest thought you may have symptoms go and get checked out.’

‘If you know someone who is ill or suffering talk to them, every single word helps, believe me I know.

‘I would also like to thank my Drs, rockstars everyone of them, all the nurses and technicians, my friends, family and Mimi, sometimes its harder to be on the other side of this…’

O’Donnell had to withdraw from The Cure’s Latin America tour last November, stating at the time that it was due to ‘health reasons’. 

Reeves Gabrels, from left, Simon Gallup, Robert Smith, Roger O’Donnell and Jason Cooper, of The Cure in 2019

O’Donnell had to withdraw from The Cure’s Latin America tour last November, stating at the time that it was due to ‘health reasons’ (pictured in June 2023) 

O’Donnell explained how the treatment has been a success, reassuring fans: ‘I’m fine and the prognosis is amazing’

In an update shared with fans on social media, the band sent their keyboardist well-wishes as they posted: ‘We are sure you will join with us in wishing him the speediest of recoveries.’ 

According to Blood Cancer UK, symptoms can include unexplained weight loss and bruising, breathlessness, rashes, tiredness, and lumps and swellings. 

The Cure, known for the tracks Boys Don’t Cry and Friday I’m In Love, have also played the Teenage Cancer Trust series of concerts.

Led by Robert Smith, the goth rock band was formed in Crawley, West Sussex, in the 1970s with O’Donnell joining during the 1980s.

He had left the group on two occasions previously, in 1990 and 2005. But in 2011, he rejoined the band. 

In 2019, the members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Throughout numerous lineup changes since the band’s formation, guitarist, lead vocalist, and songwriter Robert Smith has remained the only constant member, though bassist Simon Gallup has been present for all but about three years of the band’s history. 

Their debut album, Three Imaginary Boys (1979), along with several early singles, placed the band at the forefront of the emerging post-punk and new wave movements that were gaining prominence in the UK. 

Beginning with their second album, Seventeen Seconds (1980), the band adopted a new, increasingly dark and tormented style, which, together with Smith’s stage look, had a strong influence on the emerging genre of gothic rock as well as the goth subculture that eventually formed around the genre. 

The Cure: Jason Cooper, Simon Gallup, Robert Smith, Roger O’Donnell and Perry Bamonte

O’Donnell was born in East London into a musical family, next to the piano in his parents’ home.

He briefly attended art school but left to pursue a career as a professional musician and his first paying gig was in 1976, backing Arthur Brown.

He also played in local bands, primarily in the jazz fusion genre, with future Cure bandmate Boris Williams.

In 1987, O’Donnell was recruited to join The Cure as touring keyboardist, at the recommendation of Williams who had been the band’s drummer since 1984.