Oasis star ‘Bonehead’ Paul Arthurs has been diagnosed with tonsil cancer.
The hitmaker took to Twitter to share the news with fans, announcing he’d be pulling out of his upcoming gigs to undergo treatment.
He wrote: ‘Just to let you all know I’m going to be taking a break from playing for a while. I have been diagnosed with tonsil cancer.
Tragic: Oasis star ‘Bonehead’ Paul Arthurs has been diagnosed with tonsil cancer
‘But the good news is it’s treatable and I will be starting a course of treatment soon. I will keep you posted how it is going.’
‘I am gutted I am missing the gigs with Liam and the band.’
Paul’s bandmate Liam Gallagher send his well-wishes on social media, writing: ‘Sending BIG love to the 1 n only Bonehead and his family wishing you a speedy recovery we’re all thinking of you rasta you’ll be back on stage bfore you can say r we doing Colombia LG x.’
Announcement: The hitmaker (pictured second left with the Gallagher brothers) took to Twitter to announce he’d be pulling out of his upcoming gigs to undergo treatment
Announcement: Paul shared his diagnosis with fans in a statement posted on Twitter on Tuesday, adding he was ‘gutted’ to miss his upcoming shows
Paul is best known as the co-founder of Oasis during its 90s heyday, acting as a rhythm guitarist and keyboardist for the band.
He was a key part of the group’s early success, appearing on their albums Definitely Maybe, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?, and Be Here Now, before quitting the band in 1999.
Paul’s last gig before his announcement is thought to be on March 28, where he performed with Liam at his Teenage Cancer Trust gig at The Royal Albert Hall.
Fans also took to social media to offer their well-wishes for Paul, with one writing: ‘We will always support you bonehead you’re a legend. I will pray for you always.’
Touching: Liam Gallagher shared his own well-wishes for Paul on Twitter, wishing him a ‘speedy recovery’
On stage: Paul’s last gig before his announcement is thought to be on March 28, where he performed with Liam at his Teenage Cancer Trust gig at The Royal Albert Hall
Another added: ‘Get well soon Bonehead take care of yourself see you back on stage soon.’
A third penned: ‘Hi Paul. Am sorry to hear this news but I am sending u love and strength and best wishes.. take care of yourself and get well soon look after yourself.’
In 2016, Paul reflected on the legendary rivalry between the Gallagher brothers, telling the Shropshire Star ‘Generally you’re big boys and it’s forgotten the next morning.
Way back when: Paul is best known as the co-founder of Oasis during its 90s heyday, acting as a rhythm guitarist and keyboardist for the band (pictured in 1994)
‘I had a good relationship with everyone. And I’m closer to Liam now than I’ve ever been in my life. I always used to say I was the rhythm guitarist and tour psychiatrist.
‘If there was a little fallout when we were hurling down the motorway, I’d be the one pulling Noel and Liam apart and telling them to get over it and sit down. I always did jump in.’
A painless lump in the neck is a textbook symptom of tonsil cancer. Others include a persistent sore throat, one tonsil becoming bigger than the other and difficulty swallowing.
The disease is easy to miss, as symptoms can be quite subtle. On the disease, Professor Nutting told MailOnline back in March: ‘There is not good awareness of this cancer.’
Tonsil cancer typically occurs in those in their 40s and 50s, and cases have doubled over the past ten years, according to Cancer Research UK figures. Every year, 1,600 new cases are identified.
Some are linked to smoking and drinking, but tonsil cancer cases are rising sharply because of an increase in the prevalence of HPV, or human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted virus that’s so common, says Professor Nutting, ‘virtually all of us will have been infected at some point.
