Raul Malo has been brave in his battle against stage 4 cancer and he has shared that fight with fans along the way.
For the most part, the 60-year-old singer has managed to keep going, and that’s why the announcement from his group, The Mavericks, on Instagram recently had fans sending extra prayers.
“Due to the circumstances of his current medical condition, Raul’s medical team has instructed him not to be on the road this weekend,” the post read back on Sept. 11. “As a result we’ve had to make the difficult decision to cancel this weekend’s performances in New Haven, Verona & Boston. While Raul continues the long road to recovery, we hope you’ll still enjoy an incredible night of music with our great friends Dwight Yoakam and opener Phillip Bowen!
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and deeply appreciate your continued support during this time.”
And there was plenty of support, prayers and well-wishes in the replies.
“We’re with you Raul — sending love your way,” fellow country star Jason Isbell wrote.
“Raul, you’ve gone above and beyond what anyone could hope for with all the concerts you play,” one person wrote. “One day, your treatments will be finished and you’ll be able to play as much as you desire. Your health is the most important thing, and I know all your fans are praying for you to continue to get well and the rest you need. My husband and I look forward to the day you’re back in SF. We love you and the rest of The Mavericks!! God bless you all.”
“We’re out here rooting for you, Maestro!” another person wrote. “Thank you for all the melodies! Praying you don’t endure much pain!”
“Take care,” another wrote. “U need to heal. What u luv to do is perform. We want u to continue. Grow old with us.”
There were plenty more comments like that and you can see the band’s post as well as the comments here.
The band has not provided an update on Malo since.
Malo told fans that he was headed for the surgery in early August, and while he has not checked back in with an update on how that went, he did begin scheduling new dates including a recent announcement that he was planning to play a solo show on Oct. 24 in Iowa.
The Maverick also announced some schedule changes in late August following Malo’s surgery.
“While we had to resume our tour next weekend after the summer break, unfortunately we will have to cancel the performances in Las Vegas on Sept. 4 & Sange Fe on Sept 6 as Raul continues to rest and recover at home from surgery earlier this month,” the post read. “At this time, we do anticipate the shows supporting Dwight Yoakam, Sept. 11-13 to continue as planned.
“We will be returning to Big Blues Bender in 2026, but unfortunately we are not able to reschedule our show in Sante Fe at this time,” the statement added.
Malo revealed in late July that he had the surgery planned for early August. And in late June, he also gave fans an idea of what was ahead for him in his fight against the disease.
“Thank you to everyone for their kind wishes and support throughout all of this,” Malo wrote on Instagram. “It has not gone unnoticed I assure you. As we go through this, and I saw ‘we’ because I am not going through this alone. My family at home, my crew, my band, my management … my whole entire crew is going through this with me. Without their support who knows where I’d be. It’s important to surround yourself with as much love and support as possible. Psychology is an integral part of your physical state. I thought I had everything under control. (BTW, that’s just you lying to yourself) Then the cancer sideshows started to play out.
“My sinus infection literally brought me to my knees,” he added. “I had never felt headaches like that. I went to a specialist. Got it taken care of but the residual results are numbing of the left side of my face. Neurologist said it will repair over time. The damage is not permanent and not visible. A little drooling here and there … oh well.”
“Perspective: I’m alive.”
Malo continued to lay out his physical situation.
“The abdominal hernia has been the most challenging in all of this,” he wrote. “First of all it’s very visible. And at times it has been really painful. Most of the time it’s just really uncomfortable as I have to wear this hernia belt around my abdomen to help keep my insides in place … ugh! I’ve basically been turned into a drooling, farting potato … sigh.
“Perspective: I’m alive.”
He then talked about the road ahead.
“I say all this because I want those that are going through this to know that challenges will arise,” he wrote. “You will have your own. The fact that I can go onstage helps keep me focused on the end game. My colon surgery has been scheduled for August. The hernia will be repaired later on in the year as that will require a bit more recovery time. 16 rounds of chemo have done what they’re made to do … kill cancer. I’m not out of the woods yet but I’m on the way. First pic is from my last round of chemo. Then per usual I go for a drive in the countryside while listening to Pavarotti while driving a little over the speed limit. My wife Betty, makes a delicious Spanish omelet (my favorite) as the Mediterranean diet helps keep you healthy. For all those fighting this fight … hang in there. We got this! RM”
Malo shared some good news back in March, too.
“Received some great news this week and I wanted to share,” he wrote on the band’s Instagram back then. “My doctors are thrilled with my progress so far, hernia and all. All my scans so far have come back clear including the PET scan from last week. All my vital signs are excellent as well. We’ll know the next steps in the next week or so. Doctors will review all the scans and data and they’ll determine the next steps.”
Malo spent time in the hospital in January after developing the hernia. He also announced in January that he had surgery on Dec. 10 to remove a tumor from his liver.
Malo announced his diagnosis last June in an Instagram video.
“In the last couple of years, we out here on the road, we have been on a health kick,” he said. “Treating ourselves a little better. Taking care out ourselves a little better, and really trying to do all the right things as far as nutrition, etc. So, part of the health journey is to get yourself checked out. Go to a doctor, take a physical and start there.”
Malo said that is what he did.
“And that led to another appointment with a gastrointestinal specialist, which led to a CAT scan,” he said. “And that proved to show two cancerous spots.”