Aretha Franklin: 'The Problem Has Been Resolved'

By PopEater Staff Posted Jan 7th 2011 06:27AM

Ailing soul legend Aretha Franklin wants her fans to know she is "feeling great and coming along," but sees no need to address reports that she has been stricken with pancreatic cancer. "I am not going to even deal with that," she tells JET magazine in her first interview since falling ill. "I don't have to talk about my health with anybody other than my doctors. The problem has been resolved."

Just what has been resolved is still unclear, and with Franklin taking a hard stance on what she's willing to divulge, fans may be left in the dark for quite a while longer.

"There are a lot of people who will talk about anything, as long as there is somebody listening," she says. "But I am not one of those people. That's not Aretha."

The 'Respect' singer, 68, said she remembers having a "very hard pain in my side" while singing in Toronto last year. She initially thought the pain was due to a colonoscopy she had a day or two before.

"I got up at 2 o'clock in the morning and called the doctor who did the colonoscopy and told him what was happening. He said, 'Miss Franklin, whatever it is, it is not from the colonoscopy. You need to come home and have a CAT-scan.' Thank God he said that because that unfolded everything, what the problem was and everything."

Before doctors finally found out what was wrong with her, Franklin recalls telling herself, "I know there is a problem, but these tests are showing nothing."

Franklin thanked her fans for all their prayers and cards and asked for continued privacy "as I continue to recover." And while her first words since getting sick come as a welcome surprise, fans eager to know more about what is wrong with her are sure to be worried.

"I know my fans are concerned. Let them know I am feeling great and coming along."

This is the first news on Franklin's condition since a "highly successful" surgery on Dec. 2. Earlier, she announced she was canceling all concert dates and personal appearances through May on the order of her doctors. An unnamed family friend told a Detroit-area TV station that Franklin is battling some form of cancer. A National Enquirer report claimed she had been stricken with pancreatic cancer.

It was a difficult 2010 for Franklin. Her adult son Eddie was beaten by three men at a Detroit gas station in September. A month earlier, she broke her ribs in a fall, causing her to miss two free concerts in New York.

Franklin, born in Memphis and raised in Detroit, is the singer of hits like 'Respect,' 'Chain of Fools' and '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.'

Tags: Aretha Franklin

Comments

(31)

Friday 07 January

By John Mulheron,Jr

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Some of these postings are just mean spirited. No one is perfect on earth. If you can't pray for someone, that's okay. But it's not okay to judge or mock anyone either.

Saturday 08 January

By jboy61747

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This is GREAT news. This lady is one of the best in the business and will never be forgotten by many, many of us. Thank God she seems to be doing better

By Lu

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When you are obeese/obese all kind of medical problems occur... the ans. for her is to lose 200 lbs and hope all be well.

By nick

Eating out with Michele and Oprah too much, alot of those ham hocks and ripple.

By nellie

Only a loser would make such stupid insensitive remarks.

By hd

I have been a fan for years ... i dont think she has Pancreatic Cancer (that was just the rags) She broke some ribs earlier in the year and Ill bet all of extra weight hid a rupture ... CT Scans show that .... A blood test/biopsy would have shown pancreatic cancer ...
That said, she really needs to lose at least 100 pounds. Her current weight is almost as much as that precious actress. Aretha knows how to lose weight, she did so in the 70's when she was skinny .. and I mean Whitney Houston on crack skinny ... Id like to see Aretha live allot longer but her excess weight is going to kill her before anything else. Keep getting better. and

By pmcpaulalb

She still has a medical problem!!!! About 150 pounds of fat.

By YellowRose3218

johnson wrote,, Aretha stop eating so much ! thats the problem! Go on a snickers diet Queen of Soul!

Its people like this, that ruins faith, and trust in others for everyone. Its people like this, that makes some of us stay at home. Its people like this, that needs to learn some manners, and respect for others.
I feel nothing for people like you johnson. Your life must be horrible to write such a nasty, horrible thing about anyone.
I bet you dont look very good yourself johnson.
Your mother must have never held you when you were young.
I also bet , you have never stepped one foot in a church either.

Sunday 09 January

By grandma

I have been a big fan of aretha... since I heard her first song. I hope her the best there is.. for this singer deserves only the best. I love you Aretha. Hope you have a speedy recovery. and best of health in the future.

Sunday 13 February

By Dan DeMarco

I have to much RESPECT for you to ask what your illness is. Instead I only pray to the good LORD that you are on the mend and doing well. You looked fantastic on the Grammy Awards.

LOVE You
Dan

Monday 14 February

By sybil reddick

My dear Aretha,
I have been a fan for as long as you have been singing. I was so happy to see you last night, you look great. May God continue to grant you his healing grace ....be well
Sybil

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