Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Diagnosed With Throat Cancer, Cancels Bulk of 2019 Shows | Revolver

Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Diagnosed With Throat Cancer, Cancels Bulk of 2019 Shows

"It's clearly something to be respected and faced head on — but I've faced obstacles before."
mustaine-gettyimages-828252338.jpg, NurPhoto / Getty
photograph by NurPhoto / Getty

Megadeth frontman and thrash icon Dave Mustaine revealed in a Facebook post today, June 17th, that he has been diagnosed with throat cancer and has already begun treatment to address it. Most of Megadeth's 2019 shows have been canceled in order to pursue this treatment, but the musician tells fans the Megacruise planned for October 13-18th will go on as planned. 

"I've been diagnosed with throat cancer," he says in the post, which included a picture of the singer looking confident and strong. "It's clearly something to be respected and faced head on - but I've faced obstacles before. I'm working closely with my doctors, and we've mapped out a treatment plan which they feel has a 90% success rate. Treatment has already begun."

Following up with a brief synopsis of the show cancellations and directing fans to Megadeth's website for up-to-date news, Mustaine confirms he and the rest of the band — bassist David Ellefson, guitarist Kiko Loureiro and drummer Dirk Verbeuren — are still in the studio working on the follow-up to 2016's Dystopia

"I'm so thankful for my whole team," he concludes, "family, doctors, band members, trainers, and more. I'll keep everyone posted."