Lloyd Webber Battling Cancer

Andrew Lloyd Webber is battling prostate cancer, according to a statement from his management agency, Brown Lloyd James.

It said the 61-year-old composer of a string of hit musicals including “The Phantom Of The Opera,” “Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Evita” and “Starlight Express” expected to be fully back at work before the end of the year.

The condition was said to be in its very early stages.

A month ago, theatre impresario launched the long-awaited sequel to “Phantom,” “Love Never Dies,” at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London.

“Phantom” opened 23 years ago has been seen by 100 million people worldwide.

Prostate cancer affects around 35,000 men in the U.K. each year and kills more than 10,000.

The disease is the most common cancer in British men, accounting for a quarter of all new cases.