Country music fans are mourning Toby Keith's death, 18 months after he shared that he was being treated for stomach cancer.
The "Should've Been a Cowboy" singer died at 62 on Feb. 5, 2024, his official website and social media said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family,” the message reads. "He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
Keith had still been performing up until December, when he played shows in Las Vegas, one month after releasing his final album.
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What did Toby Keith die from?
Keith died of stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer. The statement about his death noted that he "fought his fight with grace and courage."
Stomach cancer is "not one of the more common causes of cancer death, but the problem is that, when it's diagnosed, it's oftentimes late stage," Dr. William Chey, gastroenterologist at University of Michigan Health, tells TODAY.com, adding that in these cases, the cancer usually progresses faster.
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In June 2022, Keith shared that he'd been diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2021 and was undergoing treatment. He died a little over two years after his diagnosis.
“I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery," he posted in his first public comments about his illness. "So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover, and relax.”
“I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait.”
Chey says that the treatments Keith was receiving "would be much more typical for late-stage stomach cancers."
Keith shared an update on his condition on Sept. 28, 2023, when he received the Country Icon Awards at the inaugural People's Choice Country Awards at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
“I feel pretty good,” Toby told E! News at the time. “It’s a little bit of a roller coaster. You get good days and, you know, you’re up and down, up and gown. It’s always zero to 60 and 60 to zero, but I feel good today.”
Keith added that his tumor had shrunk by about a third of its size at that time.
He also performed at the event, singing "Don't Let the Old Man In" from Clint Eastwood's movie "The Mule."
“I’ve been going through my cancer fight for the last couple of years, and it’s really inspiring for a lot of people,” he said during NBC’s pre-show event. “And coming back on TV for the first time and performing live in front of a live audience, I thought it was fitting.”
Keith's last performances came in a trio of sold-out shows in Las Vegas on Dec. 10, 11 and 14, 2023.
"They’re kind of rehab shows, get the band back in sync, get me rolling again,” he said in a video announcing the performances. “First time in my whole life I’ve been off over two years. I’ve never been off a year in my life.”
“Through COVID and cancer, the old devil’s been after me a little bit,” he added. “I’ve got him by the horns right now, so instead of just sitting around and waiting, we’re going to get the band back together.”
What causes stomach cancer?
Stomach cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world and is caused by changes in the way stomach cells function, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Risk factors for stomach cancer include tobacco use, obesity, gastroesophageal reflux disease, a diet high in salted and smoked foods, age and family history. Men are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with the disease than women, according to the NCI.
Drinking alcohol "to excess," which is not uncommon among Americans, can also increase risk of gastric cancer, Chey says. "The lifestyle piece is hugely important to cancer."
Worldwide, "the No. 1 leading cause for gastric cancer is an infection with a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori," he adds. The bacteria is more common in other parts of the world where rates of stomach cancer are higher.
Stomach cancer symptoms
Stomach cancer can be hard to detect early because symptoms don't usually begin to show until after the cancer has spread, according to the National Cancer Institute.
"A lot of times patients don't get significant symptoms until the tumor is far advanced," Chey says. "You might get a little bit of indigestion or abdominal pain (or) nausea. But those are symptoms that we all get and are easy to ignore."
Stomach cancer symptoms include:
- Indigestion and stomach discomfort
- Feeling bloated after eating
- Mild nausea
- Heartburn
- Loss of appetite
- Blood in the stool
- Vomiting
- Weight loss for no known reason
- Jaundice
- A build-up of fluid in the abdomen
- Trouble swallowing
If you have any concerning, prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms, contact a health care provider.
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:
