Barry Manilow, 82, Shares a Health Update on His Lung Cancer: ‘There’s No Symptoms for What I Had’
The legendary singer reveals how the diagnosis made him 'take stock' of his life
Key Takeaways
- Barry Manilow’s lung cancer was found early during routine imaging
- Early-stage lung cancer often has no obvious symptoms, but it's highly treatable
- Doctors say that screening and risk awareness can help save lives
Barry Manilow’s ’70s and ’80s hits have stood the test of time, continuing to resurface in social media videos from TikTok to Instagram. Recently, Manilow, 82, made headlines again after opening up about his lung cancer diagnosis, which he first revealed in an Instagram statement about his health in December 2025. Here’s a closer look at how Manilow was diagnosed, how the experience changed him and what’s next for him—plus what doctors say you can do to lower your risk of lung cancer today.
How Barry Manilow was diagnosed with lung cancer
According to People, Manilow sought medical care last November after experiencing hip discomfort. His doctor ordered imaging of his pelvis, and after learning he had recently recovered from two bouts of bronchitis, also decided to examine his lungs. It was at this point that Manilow’s stage one lung cancer was detected.
“He saved my life, because there’s no symptoms for what I had,” Manilow told People. “I could go on, nothing hurt—but they found the dot in my lung,” Manilow says. “They called me and said, ‘Could be cancer.’ That’s a bad word. ‘Not me. F— you. I can’t have cancer.’”
Woman's World Answers
Manilow’s lung cancer surgery was a success
Just a month after being diagnosed with stage one lung cancer, Manilow underwent a lobectomy.
“A lobectomy involves removing the lobe of the lung containing the tumor along with nearby lymph nodes,” explains Vincent Mase, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery at Yale School of Medicine. “In most cases, this can be performed using minimally-invasive techniques such as video-assisted or robotic surgery. These approaches reduce pain, shorten hospital stays and allow for faster recovery while maintaining excellent cancer control.”
Manilow’s surgery successfully removed the cancer, and he was discharged after spending a week in the ICU, per People. “I don’t remember it, thank goodness, because it was a nightmare,” Manilow said in the interview. “I’m one of the lucky ones; I don’t have to have chemo, radiation and all that stuff.”
Lung cancer like Manilow’s is often found incidentally
“They don’t even know how long I had this thing sitting on me,” Manilow told People. “It could have been years. If it had gone any further, then I would be up s—’s creek. It just so happened that it hadn’t spread, and boy oh boy, I thought I might be dying.”
If you’ve ever had routine testing uncover an unexpected health issue, you understand Manilow’s experience. But how common is this when it comes to lung cancer? Dr. Mase has insights.
“Many early lung cancers are discovered incidentally on chest X-rays or CT scans performed for unrelated reasons such as persistent cough, pneumonia, bronchitis or even trauma,” says Dr. Mase. “These cancers are often small and asymptomatic, which is why imaging—even when done for another purpose—plays such an important role in early detection.”
Catching lung cancer early can be life-saving
“When lung cancer is found ‘early,’ it means the cancer is confined to the lung and has not spread to lymph nodes or distant organs, typically classified as Stage I,” says Dr. Mase. “This distinction is critical because early-stage lung cancer is often curable. Surgery alone may be sufficient; survival rates are significantly higher and many patients can avoid chemotherapy or radiation. Once lung cancer spreads beyond the lung, treatment becomes more complex and outcomes decline substantially.”
How Manilow’s lung cancer diagnosis changed him
Manilow shared that his cancer experience has changed the way he reflects on the relationships and moments that matter most.
“It has really, really made me take stock of my life,” Manilow said in the interview. “This made me stop and think about: Have I done what I wanted to do, and have I made people happy? Have I been a good friend? All of those cornball things that I’ve read for all of my life, I started to think about that, too. It really did stop me in my tracks. And the answers are yes. And as a matter of fact, there are more yeses than I ever thought.”
Today, Manilow is cancer-free and back to doing what he loves. His 2025 song “Once Before I Go” climbed into the top 10 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart this March, and his new release “What a Time” is set to debut in June.
How to reduce your risk of lung cancer
“In the U.S., more women die of lung cancer than breast cancer each year, yet the topic of lung cancer prevention is never high on the list for women’s health,” says Thomas L. Bauer, MD, FACS, chair of surgery and chief of thoracic surgery at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
“We see this when it comes to cancer screenings,” he continues. “For instance, 85 percent of women who are eligible to receive mammograms get screened for breast cancer, while for lung cancer, that number is only 15 percent. With increased education on where to get screened for lung cancer and risk factor reduction, including smoking cessation, we can create a healthier environment for women.”
According to the CDC, the best ways to reduce your risk of lung cancer include:
- Quitting smoking (see our best tips to kick the habit)
- Avoiding secondhand smoke
- Testing your home for radon and reducing levels, if necessary
- Reducing exposure to carcinogens (cancer-causing compounds such as asbestos)
The bottom line on lung cancer
Persistent symptoms of lung cancer should never be ignored, Dr. Mase says.
“A cough, chest discomfort, shortness of breath or recurrent ‘infections’ that don’t resolve—particularly in current or former smokers—should prompt further evaluation,” says Dr. Mase. “Patients should feel empowered to ask whether additional imaging or follow-up is warranted. Early detection can mean the difference between a highly-treatable cancer and one that is far more difficult to cure.”
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