Tony Iommi Says Cancer Is In Remission

The guitarist revealed in January 2012 that he had been diagnosed with cancer, followed by the news that Black Sabbath was being forced to postpone its reunion tour so he could undergo treatment. After completing chemotherapy, Iommi and the band were back on the road in April 2013.

Iommi has been receiving checkups at Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull, located just outside of Birmingham. He stopped by the hospital to unveil a plaque awarding the Spire Specialist Care Centre the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark “for its care of cancer patients,” according to the Birmingham Mail.

“I came back to hospital straight after we finished a round of European tour dates, and the good news is that everything is alright up to this point,” Iommi told the paper.

“I am in remission and hopefully, this situation will continue. The chemotherapy and the follow-up treatment appear to have done the trick – but I’m aware that it could come back one day.

He added, “I have a blood test every six weeks at my GP’s, and I come in here at regular intervals for checkups. That’s something that I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life, looking for any warning signs that it might be rearing its ugly head again.

“But the availability of a facility like the Specialist Care Centre makes it so much easier. They’re all lovely here!”

Click here for the itinerary for Black Sabbath’s final tour.