Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Aretha Franklin underwent a “highly successful” and mysterious surgery last week, and canceled all concerts through May 2011 due to “medical reasons.” It was later confirmed by family that Aretha Franklin has been diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer.

“God is still in control, I had superb doctors and nurses whom were blessed by all the prayers of the city and the country.” said Aretha’s after her surgery.

Born in Memphis in 1942,Aretha Franklin has since become one of the most honored artists by the Grammy Awards, with 18 competitive Grammys, and two honorary Grammys. The “Queen of Soul” has been active since 1956, and has scored a total of 20 No. 1 singles on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart.

Join CelebrityHealthBlog.com in wishing Aretha Franklin well by visiting and sharing his Caring Candle or Light Your Own.

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Actress and singer Michell Niscastro has died at age 50 after a long 10 year struggle with breast cancer. She is survived by her two sisters, husband, their two daughters.

Best known for her roll as Odette in The Swan Princess movies, Michelle Nicastro also played roles in When Harry Met Sally and Beverly Hills, 90210. Michell Nicastro was also no stranger to the stage and preformed the lead role in the Broadway musical Merlin and played Eponine in the second US tour of Les Misérables. As a singer Michell Nicastro has released 4 albums

Join CelebrityHealthBlog.com in honoring Michelle Nicastro by visiting and sharing his Caring Candle or Light Your Own.

Bob Guccione, founder and long time publisher of the provocative Penthouse Magazine, died of lung cancer October 20, 2010, two months shy of this 80th birthday. Guccione died at Plano Specialty Hospital in Plano, Texas and had been suffering from lung cancer for some time. Two of his children were by his side.

Bob Guccione founded an erotic corporate empire around Penthouse Magazine, only to see it crumble due to poor investment decisons and internet and video pornography rose in popularity. With Penthouse, Guccione broke taboos and challenged the sexual mores of Western society.

At the peak of his success in the early 1980s, Bob Guccione was one of America’s richest men. Penthouse had a monthly circulation of 4.7 million in 16 countries, and the company owned 15 other magazines on various other topics. Forbes listed Mr. Guccione’s net worth in 1982 as $400 million.

Penthouse magazine released a statement about Bob Guccione’s death:

It is with great sadness that Penthouse mourns the loss of its founder Bob Guccione. Mr. Guccione was a unique and talented individual and his courage as a publisher and journalist holds an important place in the evolution of modern media. His vision lives on with the continued publication of Penthouse Magazine and its affiliated publications. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Guccione’s family during this difficult time.

Join CelebrityHealthBlog.com in honoring the iconic Bob Guccione by visiting and sharing his Caring Candle or Light Your Own.

Tom Bosley, best known for he role as Mr. Cunningham on Happy Days has died at age 83. Earlier reports claimed Tom Bosley died of a staph infection, but one of Bosley’s representatives later said the actor “died of natural causes or specifically, from a brief battle with lung cancer.”

Tom Bosley was a talented actor and an iconic figure. His role was Richie Cunningham’s father, in the long-running sitcom Happy Days has earned him admiration by many. He will be missed by his fans as well as his fellow actors.

Scot Baio, the actor who played Chaichi on Happy Days tweeted earlier today, “Mr. Tom Bosley will be missed by many. He was a great actor, teacher and man.”

Henry Winkler, best known for his role as Fonzie, also said kind words about Bosley: “We were a make-believe family for 10 years, and like a real family for over 30. He will be so, so missed.”

Join CelebrityHealthBlog.com in honoring Tom Bosley by visiting and sharing his Caring Candle or Light Your Own.

Comedian and actor Sir Norman Wisdom has died at the age of 95 due to strokes. Though the strokes were not the direct cause, they did ultimately contribute to his failing health. Prior to his death, Wisdom suffered a series of strokes that left him is a state of mental and physical decline. He passed Monday, October 4 in a nursing home on the Isle of Man. His family said of this passing:

“He had maintained a degree of independence until a few days ago. However, over the last few days his condition rapidly declined. He was in no pain or distress and peacefully passed over.”

Norman Wisdom is best know for his character Norman Pitkin who was freatured in films in the 50′s and 60′s as well as his slapstick style of comedy. A few of his better known films are Trouble in Store, On the Beat, and Follow a Star. Often playing “the clown,” Wisdom is beloved in many countries and was a cult favorite in Albania.

Join CelebrityHealthBlog.com in honoring the memory of funny man Norman Wisdom Caring Candle or Light Your Own.

Handsome man Tony Curtis, known for the movies Some Like it Hot, The Defiant Ones, and Sweet Smell of Success has died at age 85 of cardiac arrest. Tony Curtis previously suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and was hospitalized in July after he had difficulty breathing. Curtis died of cardiac arrest at home in Las Vegas last Wednesday night.

Tony Curtis lived a life compelling enough to be a movie. Born Bernard Schwartz, Curtis was raised by his Hungarian immigrant parents in the Bronx. His mother was abusive and aggressive with him was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia. Curtis also experienced life in an orphanage for a month when his parents could not care for him, and the death of his younger brother. Curtis has been married 5 times and has had rocky relationships with many of his children over the years.

Despite these hardships Curtis was able to become a wildly talented actor. Tony Curtis was a versatile actor who never played it safe and successfully acted in a whole range of genres. Though he was never awarded an Oscar his legacy and filmography is, at the very least, impressive.

Tony Curtis’ daughter Jamie Lee Curtis said it best:
“My father leaves behind a legacy of great performances in movies and in his paintings and assemblages. He leaves behind children and their families who loved him and respected him and a wife and in-laws who were devoted to him. He also leaves behind fans all over the world.”

Join CelebrityHealthBlog.com in honoring the memory of Tony Curtis Caring Candle or Light Your Own.

Isaac Hayes died Sunday, August 10th at the age of 65 of an apparent heart attack. Found collapsed next to his treadmill, he was rushed to a local Memphis, Tennessee hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Reports vary on the cause of death, with one report claiming a simultaneous stroke and heart attack. This may be supported by a mild stroke he suffered in January of 2006. The family has also stated that Hayes was under care for a number of medical conditions including high blood pressure.

All signs point to a natural cause of death.

Hayes is best known as the deep voiced singer of the Theme to Shaft, which won the 1971 Oscar and two Grammy awards. To a younger generation, he voiced the character of Chef on South Park, before quitting the show due a conflict with his Scientology beliefs.

Isaac will be remembered for the great impact he made on music, ranging from soul to rap to funk. Oddly, Hayes and Bernie Mac will be featured in the movie Soul Men, scheduled to be released in November 2008.

While Hayes was found near a treadmill, please don’t give the shaft to your exercise program. It’s an important part of keeping healthy at any age.

We wish the entire Hayes family our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Please leave your comments, recollections and thoughts.

In early June, it was reported that Paul Newman had what potentially could be terminal lung cancer. However, the report was controversial and the only statement from the very private Newman was that he was ‘doing nicely’.

In May, publicist Daniel Burstein stated that Newman would not direct Of Mice And Men due to health issues, but would not specify further on the actor’s condition. The health rumors started all the way back in January of this year. In response Newman joked and poked fun at these rumors.

I am being treated for athlete’s foot and hair loss – unless the doctors know something I don’t.

Recent reports have Newman leaving the Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, which specializes in cancer treatment. He has finished his chemotherapy treatment and tells his family he wishes to die at home.

If true, this is a difficult time for Newman and his family. Intensely private, the media attention (even this blog post) are somewhat intrusive. As many families may attest, having time to say goodbye is very important. David Kuhl, author of What Dying People Want, has great insight into this difficult issue.

We wish Paul Newman – screen icon, philanthropist and racer – and his family our best wishes

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Is Bernie Mac Dead?

Dead? Say what? Not a chance!

Recently hospitalized in Chicago for pneumonia, a slew of pranks and rumors surfaced claiming that he’d died. Mac’s publicist Danica Smith was emphatic.

It is a very horrible rumor. It is absolutely untrue. Nothing has changed from yesterday.

The rumor may have taken hold since Mac is in remission from sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in organs. The inflammation creates tiny lumps of cells called granulomas that can only be seen under a microscope. Though it can effect almost any organ, sarcoidosis most frequently effects the lungs and lymph nodes.

Let’s not forget that pneumonia isn’t anything to sneeze at. Coupled with Influenza, it is still one of the top leading causes of death in the U.S. Thankfully, Mac’s representatives say he is responding well to treatment and should be back on his feet soon.

Here’s hoping the comedy legend can laugh this one off.

Christina Applegate

Christina Applegate has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The Huffington Post reports that the “cancer was detected through an MRI ordered by a doctor and is not life-threatening”.

Applegate caught the cancer early which is vital to beating the disease. At 36 years old, many are shocked by Applegate’s diagnosis. However, her mother is a survivor of both breast and cervical cancer.

A family history increases the risk of cancer, so it’s good to see that Christina wasn’t ignoring the possibility, even at such a young age. In fact, Christina has been a long-time supporter of Susan G. Koman For the Cure.

We hope you join us in wishing Christina a quick and speedy recovery.