Ex-Dead Bassist Lesh Has Prostate Cancer

by Paul Liberatore | Marin Independent Journal | 10.31.2006

Former Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Lesh, 66, a longtime Marin resident, announced the diagnosis on his Web site last Thursday.

He said he planned to have the cancer removed in December using da Vinci robotic surgery, a high-tech procedure.

"Since we've caught it very early, and it's small and slow-growing, I fully expect to have a rapid and complete recovery," he wrote in a message on his site. "I am feeling energetic as always, and all my scheduled appearances will occur as planned."

Lesh said the cancer was discovered as a result of a regular medical checkup for a liver transplant.

"As you know, I urge everyone to become an organ donor to help save lives," he wrote. "Now I am also urging all men: Speak to your doctor about having periodic regular PSA screening for early detection of prostate cancer - you may save your own life."

Lesh has a few appearances scheduled, including one to sign his new DVD, "Phil & Friends Live at the Warfield," at Amoeba Music in San Francisco today.

He told the IJ in an interview early last week that he plans to take at least a year off from touring with his Phil & Friends band to write and to act as a visiting composer in the computer music department at Stanford University, where his eldest son is a student.

He said he will not consider touring again until next fall at the very soonest. "And maybe not even then," he said.

Copyright 2006 Marin Independent Journal