Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Diagnosed with Throat Cancer

(Image credit: Chiaki Nozu/WireImage/Getty Images)

Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine revealed today that he has been diagnosed with throat cancer. 

In a Facebook post, Mustaine said that he's already begun treatment, but that "most" of the band's scheduled 2019 shows will be cancelled.

"It’s clearly something to be respected and faced head on - but I’ve faced obstacles before," Mustaine wrote. "I’m working closely with my doctors, and we’ve mapped out a treatment plan which they feel has a 90 percent success rate. Treatment has already begun.

"Unfortunately, this requires that we cancel most shows this year. The 2019 Megacruise will happen, and the band will be a part of it in some form. All up to date information will be at megadeth.com as we get it. Megadeth will be back on the road ASAP.

"Meanwhile, Kiko, David, Dirk and I are in the studio, working on the follow up to Dystopia—which I can’t wait for everyone to hear.

"I’m so thankful for my whole team – family, doctors, band members, trainers, and more.

"I’ll keep everyone posted."

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Jackson Maxwell

Jackson is an Associate Editor at GuitarWorld.com. He’s been writing and editing stories about new gear, technique and guitar-driven music both old and new since 2014, and has also written extensively on the same topics for Guitar Player. Elsewhere, his album reviews and essays have appeared in Louder and Unrecorded. Though open to music of all kinds, his greatest love has always been indie, and everything that falls under its massive umbrella. To that end, you can find him on Twitter crowing about whatever great new guitar band you need to drop everything to hear right now.