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Mavericks frontman Raul Malo<\/strong><\/a>has been courageously battling stage 4 colon cancer<\/a>, but the road to recovery has been challenging. On Wednesday, September 24, Malo shared a tough update with his fans: due to his ongoing health issues, the band will be canceling all remaining concerts for the year.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to update you all on my health, as things have taken a turn,\u201d Malo wrote to his followers on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n He revealed that he has developed leptomeningeal disease (LMD) \u2014 a serious condition that occurs when cancer cells invade the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.<\/p>\n \u201cAs it goes with cancer, it\u2019s a very unpredictable and indiscriminatory disease. I\u2019ve developed something called LMD, which stands for \u2018get this sh-t out of my head.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Malo explained that while this diagnosis is serious, he is focusing on rest and recovery as he continues his treatment. \u201cIt\u2019s time to take your words to heart of resting & recovering, so that\u2019s what I\u2019m going to do,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n Since his original diagnosis, The Mavericks have continued to tour, but now, the band has announced that all remaining concerts scheduled for 2025 will be canceled. However, there are two exceptions; shows at Nashville\u2019s iconic Ryman Auditorium in December.<\/p>\n Malo encouraged fans to hold on to their tickets for those performances, hinting at a comeback in the works. \u201cHang on to your tickets for the Ryman in December, as we are planning something special there, and hope to announce that very soon,\u201d Malo wrote.<\/p>\n Along with his message, Malo shared a video of himself strumming the guitar, reminding fans that he still remains connected to his music despite the challenges he\u2019s facing.<\/p>\n Throughout it all, Malo is deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from fans around the world. \u201cI am in no way alone, or scared,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t know what this will look like a couple months from now, but we are going into it like we have with everything else. Full steam ahead. Fight, recover, rest, repeat.\u201d<\/p>\n He also shared a heartfelt reminder to find empathy wherever possible, saying, \u201cHumans are alright, even if you don\u2019t believe it from what you see on TV.\u201d<\/p>\n Fans have taken note and responded with encouragement, flooding his page with messages like, \u201cSending strength and peace,\u201d and \u201cWishing you a smooth therapy and speedy recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n The news comes after the band revealed earlier this month that their September 4 performance at Las Vegas\u2019 Big Blues Bender would be rescheduled for next year. Meanwhile, the September 6 concert in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was canceled, with refunds available for ticket holders.<\/p>\n \u201cWe apologize sincerely for any inconvenience this may cause, and appreciate everyone\u2019s continued understanding this year,\u201d the band\u2019s statement read<\/a> on Instagram. \u201cWe look forward to bringing you the show you know and love as soon as we possibly can.\u201d<\/p>\n The band plans to take a touring break in early 2026 to allow Malo to focus on what they hope will be the last stage of his cancer treatment.<\/p>\n This story was originally reported by Parade<\/a> on Sep 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the News<\/a> section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n