Michael Sweet , lead singer of Stryper , announced last Tuesday, the 9th, that he was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer, after a biopsy performed on November 17th confirmed that a nodule in his right lobe is malignant.
Despite the scare, Sweet conveyed optimism to fans with a message posted on his social media . According to the vocalist, the cancer "is slow-growing" and doctors are showing good prospects regarding treatment. He already has additional tests scheduled and a meeting with his surgeon on December 22nd to define the next steps. "It's a papillary thyroid cancer, so the good news is that it's growing slowly and my doctor seems very optimistic about it," said the musician.
New album from Stryper
Despite the diagnosis, plans for the band Stryper are continuing. Currently, recording for the new album is scheduled to begin on December 28th. Sweet assured that he will return to the stage as soon as he recovers, aiming to perform again in 2026. “As soon as we finish recording, I’m going to have another surgery to remove my right thyroid and the nodule itself. This is papillary thyroid cancer, so the good news is that it’s growing slowly, and that’s something my doctor seems very optimistic about,” Sweet stated.
The musician admitted that he had been experiencing vocal discomfort recently, "as if everything was tighter." But now he understands that the nodule had been interfering with his voice for some time. Even with the diagnosis, he thanked his fans for their support, sent messages of faith and positivity, and reiterated that he sees 2026 as the year of his triumphant return: "I will be ready to return to the stage."
“I sincerely apologize for not being able to perform at 100% lately. To be honest, it’s been a little difficult, but I’m confident things will get better. Although it’s worrying even to hear the word ‘cancer’ (let alone receive the diagnosis), I believe this will be behind me soon. I will recover, deal with the situation, and be ready for 2026,” he concluded.
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