Patti Scialfa, the talented singer and guitarist who is both Bruce Springsteen’s wife and a member of the iconic E Street Band, has been going through a tough time for the past few years.
She courageously revealed that she has been battling cancer since 2018, sharing the emotional news in Springsteen’s new documentary, Rock Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2024.
Patti was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. This news hit her and her family hard, and it made it difficult for Patti to tour with her husband and the rest of the E Street Band.
“This affects my immune system, so I have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go,” Patti explained in the documentary. “Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs on stage, and that’s been a treat. That’s the new normal for me right now, and I’m OK with that.”
Despite these challenges, Patti has remained strong and positive. She made the tough but necessary decision to step back from touring, prioritizing her health. However, she still makes appearances at a few shows whenever she can.
“I didn’t feel as needed in a way because there were a lot of musicians on stage,” Patti told the Asbury Park Press. “I did the first couple of shows, and as I saw how it was all rolling, I thought, ‘This is good. This is completely intact. There’s not much room for me to add anything special.’”
Patti also shared that during this time, she took the opportunity to work on her solo album, a project she couldn’t have focused on while Bruce was home.
“The main thing was I have a record that I couldn’t have finished when Bruce was home because he’s in the studio all the time. So I took that opportunity to do my record,” she said.
In addition to Patti’s health struggles, Bruce Springsteen himself faced his own health issues in recent years. In September 2023, Bruce was forced to postpone his remaining 2023 tour dates to focus on receiving treatment for peptic ulcer disease.
Later, in early summer 2024, Bruce had to cancel some tour dates again, this time due to “vocal issues.” Thankfully, this problem only affected three dates, and Bruce was able to get back on stage soon after.
Despite all these challenges, both Patti and Bruce have shown incredible strength. Patti’s battle with cancer is ongoing, but she continues to find moments of joy and purpose. “I’m OK with that,” she said, embracing her new normal.
As we follow their journey, our thoughts and prayers are with Patti as she bravely fights through her illness, and we wish Bruce all the best in his recovery. We also hope that the love and support of their fans will keep them going through these tough times.
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