Bruce Springsteen’s beloved wife Patti Scialfa, who he’s been married to for 33 years, has made the sad announcement that she’s secretly been battling blood cancer since 2018.
Scialfa’s Cancer Diagnosis
Scialfa, 71, shocked everyone when she revealed that she’s been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. She dropped this bomb in her husband’s new documentary, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which premiered on Sunday night at the Toronto Film Festival.
Scialfa explained that her blood cancer diagnosis is what forced her to take a step back from her and Springsteen’s E Street Band.
“Touring has become a challenge for me,” Scialfa said in the documentary. “This affects my immune system so I just have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go.”
“Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs on stage, and that’s been a treat,” she continued. “That’s the new normal for me right now, and I’m OK with that.”
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Scialfa And Springsteen’s History
Scialfa joined Springsteen’s E Street Band in 1984. She married Springsteen seven years later in 1991. Scialfa and Springsteen are parents to three children: Evan, 34, Jessica, 32, and Samuel, 30.
The Mayo Clinic states that multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. Symptoms of this cancer include bone pain, loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, infections, weight loss and mental fogginess,
The E Street Band’s current tour started in February of 2023. It is set to extend through July of 2025. Sadly, Scialfa has been absent for much of this tour in order to focus on her health.
In 2023, Scialfa claimed to the Asbury Park Press that she was absent from the the tour because she was working on a solo album. She also alleged that she wanted to spend more time with her and Springsteen’s first grandchild Lily, who was born to Samuel in July of 2022.
“I didn’t feel as needed in a way because there were a lot of musicians on stage,” she said in October of last year. “I did the first couple of shows, and as I saw how it was all rolling, I thought, ‘This is good. This is completely intact. There’s not much room for me to add anything special.’”
“And the main thing was I have a record that I couldn’t have finished when Bruce was home because he’s in the studio all the time,” she added. “So I took that opportunity to do my record.”
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Springsteen’s Health Issues
Springsteen has suffered from his own fair share of health problems as well. Last year, he was forced to postpone his shows between September and December due to peptic ulcer disease. Springsteen resumed his tour in March. Sadly, he then had to reschedule three European shows in May due to “vocal issues.”
A source close to Springsteen said he “hasn’t been the same” since undergoing throat surgery in 2013. This surgery saw doctors cut open his vocal cords to repair damaged discs in his neck.
“It has really had an impact on his overall well-being,” the insider explained. “Everyone wants him to just focus on his health and not push himself.”
This source went on to say that Springsteen was heartbroken to be forced to cancel and postpone shows.
“Bruce hates not being able to do what he loves,” the source lamented. “Although an ulcer doesn’t sound serious, it can be and can require surgery.”
This has clearly been a very difficult few years for Scialfa and Springsteen. Please join us in saying a prayer for them as she continues her cancer battle!
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