Alarm frontman Mike Peters discloses worrying health update as he cancels US tour

Alarm frontman Mike Peters has announced a worrying update in his long battle with cancer. The Rhyl singer posted the news this evening on Facebook, cancelling the planned tour to the US that was due to start this week.

He said that last Sunday (April 21) he had woken with a large swollen gland. The 65-year-old - who has spent 29 years fighting cancer - said he underwent an emergency biopsy and scan.

The early results have determined that his chronic leukaemia had undergone a transformation into a high grade lymphoma. He said that it had come as a "bolt out the blue".

'High-grade’ means the cancer cells are dividing quickly, so ‘high-grade’ lymphomas are fast-growing and need immediate treatment. But the Lymphoma Association said fast-growing cells are often more sensitive to treatment and many are treated with the aim of curing them

He said cancer had been chasing him for nearly 30 years and he was "determined to keep running even harder to stay one step ahead".

Fans have already posted thousands of messages of support for the musician and his wife Jules on Facebook.

Mike Peters said: "I have no doubt that the following news will come as a complete shock to you in the same way that it has also come as a bolt out of the blue to me and my family. On Sunday morning April 21st, I awoke with a large swollen gland on the left side of my neck. I saw Dr. Heartin at the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre at 10 am on the Monday, and he immediately arranged for an emergency biopsy and CT Scan.

"The early results have determined that my Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) has undergone a transformation into a High Grade Lymphoma. I am awaiting to have both a PET and Heart Scan and also consultations with the team at the Christie Institute in Manchester before confirming the exact specifics of my new treatment regime with the amazing Dr. Heartin and the brilliant team at The North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre.

"Once the exact specifics of the biopsy and the treatment plans have been determined, I will write again with a plan for recovery and how I’m going to make it through what I know will be the most challenging time of my life."

On the planned tour, he said: "Unfortunately, due to this distressing news, I can no longer travel to the USA for the Live Today Love Tomorrow Tour, which was due to commence this week on May 1st. I am still reeling from the consequences of this new and completely unforeseen diagnosis and doing my best to process what is happening. I’m grateful for the love and understanding of everyone affected by the tour postponement and hoping and praying with all that I have, that this is just a pause in the story of my life, and that normal service will be able to resume soon."

He added: "Cancer has been chasing me for 29 years now, and in all that time, I have managed to outrun the disease and stay alive. My focus and resolve remain the same, and I’m determined to keep running even harder to stay one step ahead and resume my life as a husband, father, and musician as soon as possible.

"Thanks for all your understanding, and I will endeavour to keep you updated as soon as I know what the doctors have in store for me and the life steps I will have to take to get back on the front foot."