Beastie Boys Yauch gives hospital update

Beastie Boys rapper Adam 'MCA' Yauch has given fans an update on how his cancer treatment is progressing, revealing that he has undergone surgery to combat the illness and is due to start radiation therapy soon.

Last month, Yauch revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer of the preaortic gland and lymph node.

The band consequently postponed all promotional and live commitments in order for the rapper to receive treatment. Yauch has since sent an email message out to fans who have signed up at the band's website, in which he explained that he had refused all painkillers during his treatment so far.

"I'm about a week and a half out of surgery now and rapidly recovering from it," he explained. "I haven't taken any of the pain meds, which supposedly speeds along the healing process, or should I say, taking them slows it down.

"I'm pretty well detoxed from the anaesthesia that they pumped me up with to keep me under for all that time. That took several days to get out of my system. My neck and jaw are still pretty stiff from the surgery, but it gets better everyday. Had the stitches out this past Monday so things are moving along."

Yauch then explained what was next in his treatment programme, adding: "No sooner am I on the mend from this first torture than are they lining up the next one. The next line of treatment will be radiation. That involves blasting you with some kind of beam for a few minutes a day, five days a week, for about seven weeks. That will start in a few weeks."

He also acknowledged the tributes he had received recently from Jay-Z, Coldplay and Yeah Yeah Yeahs's Karen O.

"Saw the Jay-Z cover of 'No Sleep…', and the Coldplay one of '…Fight For Your Right…' from APW," he wrote. "Good s**t. And I heard Karen O wore a 'Get well MCA' armband, and that Q-Tip gave a shout out too... very kind of them.

"Just wanted to thank them and everyone else who sent positive thoughts my way. I do think that all of the well wishes have contributed to the fact that my treatment and recovery are going well."