Geto Boys rapper Bushwick Bill diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, says he's not afraid of dying
Geto Boys rapper Bushwick Bill has revealed that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The 52-year-old, who had initially kept his diagnosis private, has now opened up about the same and said that he was diagnosed in February and is currently undergoing intensive chemotherapy treatment. He also said that he is as of now unsure about how his body is reacting to the treatment.
According to a report on TMZ on Wednesday, the rapper said the cancer diagnosis came as a shock to him as he had been undergoing several tests for a month regarding a mass in his pancreas, which the doctors had said was benign.
"We see a mass in your pancreas but we cannot understand because it is not alcohol, it is not sugar, it is not diabetes, and have been going through all kinds of stuff and finally by February 8, they (doctors) said it was stage 4 pancreatitis cancer. And I was like, Stage 4? I have been getting tested for a mass but it was benign. So I am like could it be cancer? was told it is mass with no purpose. So to find out, and pancreatic cancer is undetected until it's in the fourth or fifth stage. I have been keeping it to myself and I am getting ready to tell Scarface and Willie D (fellow Geto members). I have only told close family members and that's about it. But I figured keeping it to myself is not helping anybody and it's not like I am afraid of dying because if anyone knows anything about me then they know I died and came back already in June 19, 1991, so I know what it is like on the other side and that really not what it's about."
The 1991 incident that Bushwick is referring to is when he shot himself in the eye during an argument with his girlfriend, which led to him losing an eye. He even refers to this in his song 'Ever So Clear'. The rapper also has dwarfism.
He further added, "It's about life, loving life and being there for the family. Not just starting a dream or getting married or getting your first house and finding out you have pancreatic cancer and you cannot live the rest of your dream. I just want people to be aware of that so when they set their dreams and goals, they are healthy enough to fulfill and live. The reason why I am doing three albums right now, when most celebrities pass, they don't really have nothing set up for their children and everything is in disarray so I figured, old music will sell, yes. But if I had new music for them, I have a book and I have a documentary and any other endeavors that I get into now, at least they will have a residual income from those things. Instead of knowing that I am their dad and my old records are selling and publishing belongs to somebody else. I'd rather know for sure that I did my part."