By Melinda Newman

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Singer Raul Malo of the American band The Mavericks performs live on stage during a concert at the Huxleys on May 4, 2024 in Berlin, Germany.

Frank Hoensch/Redferns

The Mavericks’ lead singer Raul Malo has given an update on his medical condition and the immediate future of the revered country band.

Malo has been receiving treatment for colon cancer since June 2024 but has remarkably managed to keep touring with periodic breaks for treatment. However, in an Instagram post earlier Wednesday (Sept. 24), accompanied by a video of him sitting in what looks like a study playing his electric guitar, he said all future shows are cancelled while he furthers treatment.

“I’ve developed something called LMD, which stands for ‘get this sh-t out of my head/’ Treatment for this is radiation, which I will start tomorrow,” he wrote. “We will probably jump into some chemo, and are even looking at alternative therapies.” According to the Mayo Clinic’s website, LMD stands for Leptomeningeal Disease, a condition when cancer cells spread to the membranes around the brain and spinal chord.

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Malo said the band will continue working on other non-touring projects, including releasing live recordings and merchandise. He also said while the Mavericks’ dates with Dwight Yoakam on Yoakam’s Cosmic Roundup & Rodeo tour are canceled, the band still hopes to play its shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in December.

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The singer also sent thanks to all who are wishing him well and for the circle of support he has. “I want to let everybody know, I am in no way alone, or scared. I have an amazing wife and boys, wonderful family, team, road crew, band, friends and fans,” he said. “I don’t even have enough words to describe the love and support that I’m getting right now. To my friends who have sent me texts and messages, I want you to know that I’ve read them all. I can’t return them all, but your love, prayers, and well wishes have not gone unnoticed.”

He also vowed to keep fighting. “We don’t know what this will look like a couple months from now, but we are going into it like we have with everything else. Full steam ahead. Fight, recover, rest, repeat.”

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