The jazzman’s health problems were only known to close friends and trusted associates until his family sent out an email Nov. 2, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, reporting the musician has battled the disease since at least February.

The newspaper also reports the 85-year-old Moody has decided not to receive any chemo or radiation treatments.

Moody’s jazz credentials are well known to fans. Acclaimed as one of the world’s great jazzmen, Moody joined Dizzy Gillespie’s big band in 1946, was a 1998 recipient of the Jazz Master Award from the National Endowment For The Arts and has played the White House three times.

Surgeons operated on Moody at UCSD Thornton Hospital Feb. 28 with the intention to resect the pancreatic cancer tumor. However, that plan changed when doctors feared the procedure would threaten his life. Instead, surgeons removed his gall bladder and performed a double bypass on his digestive system to remove blockage, according to the Union-Tribune.

“We decided to let people know about his condition now, mainly because I felt he should feel the love from people around the world whose lives he has touched,” said Moody’s wife, Linda.

Fans wanting to send their best wishes are invited to contact Moody at [email protected].

Click here for the complete Union-Tribune article and here for James Moody’s website.