Carly Simon reveals Parkinson's diagnosis and recent skin cancer treatment
The 83-year-old singer disclosed that she has Parkinson's disease and recently underwent surgery for basal cell carcinoma, while preparing to release a new album.
Singer Carly Simon, 83, announced that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease after experiencing worsening mobility despite joint-replacement surgeries. In a statement to the Associated Press, Simon said an evaluation at the Mayo Clinic confirmed the diagnosis and that she has begun medication to manage stiffness and other symptoms.
She added that the disease affects her unpredictably, with some days leaving her too tired to get moving and others allowing more normal activity. Simon also disclosed that she was treated for basal cell carcinoma on her face, undergoing surgery that removed the cancer but altered her appearance.
Despite the health challenges, Simon is working on new music, planning to release an album of original songs on Aug. 14, her first such collection since 2008.
"So many people have written to me, kindly wondering about my relative silence, asking how I am and what I have been doing. The truth is, I’ve been learning how to live with Parkinson’s disease," Simon said.
"My family and I knew that something more was going on. After an extensive evaluation at the Mayo Clinic, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s," she added.
"I began treatment, including taking medication to help with stiffness and other symptoms," she explained.
"Working on the music gave shape to days that did not always have much shape. It gave me somewhere to go without having to leave the room," Simon said.