3 Doors Down frontman Brad Arnold has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer aged 46.
The 46-year-old singer, known for the hit song Here Without You, shared the heartbreaking news that he is battling kidney cancer that has also spread to his lung. In a video released on Wednesday, he expressed his determination to fight the disease, stating that it is not his time to give up.
He said: ‘Hey, everybody, it’s Brad from 3 Doors Down. I hope you’re having a great day today. I’ve got some not-so-good news for you today.
He revealed that he had been feeling unwell a few weeks ago, leading him to seek medical attention. Following tests, he received the diagnosis of clear cell renal carcinoma that had metastasized to his lung.
‘And it’s stage four, and that’s not really good. But you know what? We serve a mighty God, and he can overcome anything.’
Despite the difficult news, the singer conveyed his lack of fear towards the situation. He assured his fans that he is not scared and is ready to confront the challenges ahead. Unfortunately, the treatment will require him to cancel the upcoming summer tour, for which he expressed regret.
Referencing the band’s hit song he added: ‘And I’d love for you to lift me in prayer every chance you get. And I think it is time for me to maybe go listen to It’s Not My Time a little bit. Thank you, guys, so much. God loves you. We love you. See you.’
The drummer’s video was captioned: ‘Thank you for all the memories so far. Now, I believe “ITS NOT MY TIME” is really my song.
‘This’ll be a battle so we need our prayers warriors! Thank y’all for being the best fans in the world. We love y’all!’
The band’s tour was due to begin in Daytona Beach, Florida on May 15.
Arnold mentioned 3 Doors Down’s hit 2008 song again in the caption of his moving Instagram video.
‘Thank you for all the memories so far. Now, I believe ‘It’s Not My Time’ is really my song. This’ll be a battle so we need our prayers warriors! Thank y’all for being the best fans in the world. We love y’all!’
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer, making up about 75% of all kidney cancers.
At stage three and four it kills between 85 and 90 percent of patients.
Kidney cancer is the seventh most common type of cancer among men in the US and tenth most common among women.
Only around 10 to 15 percent of patients diagnosed with late stage ccRCC survive after five years.
Arnold is one of three founding members of the iconic band, alongside Tod Harrell and the late Matt Roberts, who died in 2016.
After acquiring Chris Henderson as guitarist, they released a now multi-platinum debut album called The Better Life in 2000, known for such singles as Kryptonite and Duck And Run.
The group was later joined by drummer Richard Liles, who played during the tour for their first album.
Their second album, Away from the Sun (2002), debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200, and included acclaimed singles When I’m Gone and Here Without You.
Their third and fourth studio albums, Seventeen Days (2005) and their self-titled fourth album (2008), both topped the Billboard 200.
Time of My Life charted at no 3 in 2011 with the band’s last studio album, Us and the Night released in 2016 charting at 14 in the US.
The band’s current line-up is comprised of Arnold, Chris Henderson, Greg Upchurch, Chet Roberts and Justin Biltonen.
The band was rocked by tragedy in 2016 with the shock death of 38-year-old Roberts from a prescription drug overdose.
Roberts left the band after its 2012 European tour, checking into rehab the same year.
He was found dead in August 2016 in a hotel hallway in West Bend, Wisconsin, where he had gone to perform a charity concert.