Rocker Ronnie Platt shared a positive and uplifting update in the wake of his surgery for thyroid cancer.
In a post on his Facebook page, the Kansas singer revealed that he’s back home recovering and doing well after undergoing the outpatient operation just over two weeks after confirming his diagnosis.
‘I am home! The Doctor said my surgery couldn’t have gone any better!!!’ the Chicago native, 65, wrote with obvious optimism within his words. ‘I felt the power of everyone’s prayers and positive energy! You all have helped me thru this, how do I? or can I? ever thank all of you for that!!!????’
‘Day 1 of recovery here I am!!!” he continued during Tuesday’s update, before sharing about his plan for the future.
‘I am looking forward to getting back to what I do best! Yes, Singing, but my true job is entertaining you all and helping you at least for a couple hours forget about your problems and recharge your batteries. I take a lot of pride in that!!!! Thank you all again, CARRY ON!!!!’
Platt, who took on the role of Kansas frontman after the retirement of Steve Walsh in 2014, first announced his thyroid cancer diagnosis in a February 15 post on Facebook.
Kansas singer Ronnie Platt, 65, announced he’s back at home and doing well after undergoing thyroid cancer surgery just over two weeks after confirming his diagnosis; he’s seen in 2023
‘For all of you asking, Tuesday I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer but before everyone gets all excited, it has a 99% survival rate, it has not spread,’ he wrote while keeping a positive attitude. ‘It’s contained to my thyroid. I just have to have my thyroid removed. Go through some rehab time and be right back in the saddle.’
As a result, the band had to reschedule multiple shows in light of his illness, including concerts in February and March.
Five days later, the former Shooting Star vocalist shared about how he and his doctors were feeling optimistic about his treatment and recovery ahead of the surgery.
‘So far, the prognosis has been very good,’ he wrote on February 20. ‘I’m looking forward to getting this behind me and being back in the saddle as soon as possible. I appreciate the outpouring of support I’ve been receiving.’
Thyroid cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the thyroid, which is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple, according to the Mayo Clinic.
This type of cancer ‘might not cause any symptoms at first. But as it grows, it can cause signs and symptoms, such as swelling in your neck, voice changes and difficulty swallowing.’
Assistant band manager J.R. Rees told Ultimate Classic Rock: ‘Our goal is to be back on the road as soon as possible,’ around the time Platt shared about the prognosis. ‘Right now, we’re all focused on supporting Ronnie through this.’
Kansas has been out on the road for their 50th anniversary tour, Another Fork In The Road, with dates currently scheduled until November 2025.
The Chicago native revealed his ‘surgery couldn’t have gone any better!!!’ in a Tuesday post on his Facebook page. ‘I felt the power of everyone’s prayers and positive energy!’
Platt took over the frontman role for Kansas in 2014 after the retirement of Steve Walsh
The singer first announced his cancer diagnosis in a post on Facebook on February 15
Due to Platt’s illness the band had to cancel some shows in February and March as part of their ongoing 50th anniversary tour, Another Fork In The Road; Kansas are pictured in 2023
The early incarnations of Kansas, featuring several member changes, took shape in Topeka, Kansas back in the early 1970s.
The rock band, behind the classic songs Dust In The Wind and Carry On Wayward Son, catapulted their wildly successful career with the release their first album Topeka in 1974.
The group’s original line-up consisted of Richard Williams, Phil Ehart, Kerry Livgren, Steve Walsh, Robbie Steinhardt, and Dave Hope.
Currently, Williams and Ehart are the only remaining original members of the group, which now also includes Platt, Zak Rivi, Tom Brislin, Joe Deninzon, and Dan McGowan.
Kansas enjoyed success on the charts with hits like Dust In The Wind in 1970’s and 80s; the group is pictured with John Elefante on lead vocals back in 1982
‘There’s a small paragraph on the cover of our first album that says, ‘Kansas is a band.” It’s not Kansas featuring somebody or certain people. When Kansas plays, it sounds like Kansas,’ Ehart previously told Billboard of their changing line-up.
Kansas has enjoyed success on the charts, with one top 10 smash – Dust In The Wind – hitting the Billboard Hot 100, along with 14 others that landed on the same chart.
Over the course of their career the band has released 16 studio albums between 1974 and 2020, selling more than 30 million record along the way, eight of which having gone gold and three hitting sextuple-platinum.
In the more recent incarnation, Platt has performed on two Kansas albums, The Prelude Implicit (2016) and The Absence Of Presence (2020).