November 1, 2024/ Midnight

Erie, PA – Raul Malo, lead singer and songwriter for popular country music band “The Mavericks” has been confronting a battle with a case of colon cancer, following his diagnosis on June 27 of this year and has been keeping his fans updated in that time. Last week, Malo posted an update in support of the New York Yankees that garnered a lot of sympathetic feedback from his community.

In the post, Malo sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” while playing on his guitar and wearing a Yankees cap on his Instagram page. In the post’s caption, he apologized to fans who were planning to see the band at New Hope Winery this December, expressing that “Doctors don’t want to risk losing the window to operate successfully on the liver (especially after the first procedure went so well.) The operation is set for Dec 10 with a month for recovery. Sadly, the New Hope shows will be affected.”

Malo expressed his disappointment at being forced to postpone his show in December. However, he promised that he would return in 2025. “But the hopes are to start the year strong, rested, and healthy.” He wrote. “All the Mavericks shows will play including finishing out our year at the Ryman. Thank you all for your loving support and your understanding of the fluid situation that we’ve been dealing with. In the meantime…Play Ball!!!! Go (Yankees).”

Fans responded quickly to the message with their condolences, wishing him well with hundreds of supportive messages in the comments section of his post. Amongst those were comments such as, “That’s all that matters at this time. We love you. Hope to see you again soon. We missed you in steamboat,” and “Just do what you have to do Raul to get healthy.”

“We love you and are praying for you,” and “Please take care of yourself,” read other comments. Malo announced his liver cancer diagnosis around June on his Instagram page; after announcing he and his band would take a break to focus on their own wellbeing. The doctors were able to catch the cancer early, giving Malo the chance to stay positive despite his situation.

Cancer diagnoses are becoming more and more common throughout the year. According to the American Cancer Society, there are nearly 5,500 diagnoses daily, crossing the 2 million mark of diagnoses this year. Even as October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, comes to an end, light still must be shed on all the types of cancer. As science and treatment plans improve, and cancer can be screened and caught earlier and earlier, there is ever increasing hope for cancer patients. Malo’s story of his diagnosis and treatment sheds light on how there is still a lot of hope to treat those who suffer from cancer.