Charles Kelley, the co-lead vocalist and founding member of the country music trio Lady A, has been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer.
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Kelley → found → cancer
In a video he shared on Instagram on Tuesday alongside his wife Cassie McConnell Kelley, the singer said he has multiple myeloma.
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he → share → myeloma
"Hey everybody, just wanted to give a quick update on some health issues I'm dealing with," he said.
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he → want → issues
"I had this -- a couple random rib fractures that happened, which sparked my doctor into having me do several different blood tests."
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me → have → tests
Kelley continued, "And one of the blood tests we did, they found a blood cancer in there called multiple myeloma and it's rare."
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it → continue → cancer
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer where too many plasma cells crowd "out normal cells in the bone marrow that make red blood cells, platelets and other white blood cells."
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that → say → cells
The CDC adds that it's the most common type of plasma cell tumor and develops in the bone marrow and can spread throughout the body.
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it → add → body
According to the agency, scientists are still unclear about why some people get myeloma and others don't, but age is the most significant risk factor.
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age → accord → myeloma
Men are also more likely than women to develop myeloma, according to the CDC.
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Men → develop → CDC
Despite the diagnosis, the "Need You Now" singer said he is hopeful.
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he → need → You
"I'm young, I feel healthy, and the treatments, I will have to say, have just come so far, even in the past five years that, even a life expectancy is just far exceeds what it used to be," he said, adding that he has leaned on a friend of his who is also diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
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who → feel → myeloma
He went on and talked about upcoming shows lined up with Lady A, including several Christmas shows.
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He → go → shows
He also mentioned that he has the first six months of treatment but didn't specify when that will be.
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that → mention → treatment
However, Kelley said that he doesn't believe that it will be "too super invasive.
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it → say → ?
"I can still work," he said.
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he → work → ?
"I think physically I will feel like myself.
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I → think → myself
I'll have tough days, but you know, I wanna keep working.
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I → have → days
Even going out last weekend after even knowing the news, it was like this is where I belong."
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I → go → news
Kelley continued, "I need to be happy and doing what I love to do and spending and soaking up as much time with my family as I can as well.
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I → continue → family
But I'm hopeful, I really am and we just want to let you all know and I'll try to let you in when I feel like it's appropriate throughout the journey and it's just another hurdle and you know I'm pretty confident that we're going to get through it.
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we → want → it
After starting recovery in August 2022, he has spoken in depth about the process with his fans.
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he → start → fans
"It helped me so much," he said.
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he → help → me
"I think in the same spirit of the way we've kind of shared a lot of my sobriety journey just getting this stuff off your chest is so freeing and it takes the power away from it a little but that we wanted to let you know what was going on."
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what → think → it
He added, "We're going to get through it.
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We → add → it
I think in sobriety, it's all about one day at a time and that we're not in control and so that's the way we're looking at it.
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we → think → it
In the comments section of Kelley's post, his fellow band members shared their support.
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members → share → support
Hillary Scott wrote, "The strongest duo right here!
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Scott → write → duo
You've got this! ❤️"
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You → get → this
Dave Haywood added, "Covering you in prayer brother.
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Haywood → add → prayer
We’re all here for you!"
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We → ’re → you
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