Patti Scialfa, Bruce Springsteen’s wife and a member of the E Street Band, revealed that she has been battling cancer for several years. In the new Springsteen documentary Rock Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, Scialfa shared that she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2018. The singer-songwriter stated that the diagnosis made it difficult for her to tour with her husband and the E Street Band, leading her to make the tough decision to retire.
It affects my immune system, so I have to be cautious about what I do and where I go,” she said. “Every now and then, I attend a show or two and sing a few songs on stage, and that’s a treat. This is my new normal now, and I’m okay with it.” Previously, Scialfa told Asbury Park Press that she decided to perform in only a handful of shows during Springsteen’s current tour, which began in February 2023, because she wanted to spend more time with her granddaughter, Lily Springsteen, who was born in July 2022, and focus on her solo album.
In a way, I didn’t feel needed because there were so many musicians on stage,” the guitarist said. “I played the first few shows, and when I saw how everything was going, I thought, ‘This is fine. It’s perfectly fine. I don’t have much space to add something special.’ And the main thing is, I have a record that I wouldn’t have been able to finish if Bruce had been home, because he’s always in the studio.
I took advantage of the time to work on my album,” Scialfa shared. She isn’t the only one facing health issues. In September 2023, Springsteen was forced to postpone his remaining tour dates due to ongoing treatment for a stomach ulcer. Earlier in the summer of 2024, he had to postpone more dates, this time due to a medical issue involving “voice problems.” Thankfully, this only affected three shows. My prayers go out to Patti Scialfa as she continues her battle with multiple myeloma.
