Health · Medical Research · 5 hrs ago
Tony Bellotto says cancer diagnosis has made each day feel more special
Tony Bellotto was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2025.
The 66-year-old Brazilian musician and writer says he does not fear death, though he worries about the suffering it could cause people he loves.
The diagnosis has made him value each day more, and he says music helps him live with the illness.
Bellotto continues to perform and write, and advises people facing cancer to stay calm and look at what science can offer.
He also says cancer carries a damaging stigma, and hopes that will change as treatments improve.
On November 6, he is scheduled to speak to 4,000 doctors at a clinical oncology congress in Rio de Janeiro about life, science, art and the human side of care.
Tony Bellotto says his pancreatic cancer diagnosis has made each day feel more special.
The musician and writer was diagnosed in March 2025 and says the diagnosis made death feel more concrete, prompting him to live with greater intensity.
He says he does not fear death but worries about the suffering it could cause people he loves.
Bellotto says music helps him cope, and advises people facing cancer to stay calm and focus on what science can offer.
He is due to give a lecture to 4,000 doctors during the Brazilian Congress of Clinical Oncology in Rio de Janeiro.
- Who
- Tony Bellotto, a musician, writer and guitarist for Titãs.
- What
- He says his pancreatic cancer diagnosis has made each day feel more special and led him to live more intensely.
- When
- He was diagnosed in March 2025. The interviews were published on November 4 and 5, 2026.
- Where
- Bellotto is based in Brazil; he is due to give a lecture in Rio de Janeiro.
- Why
- The diagnosis made the possibility of death more concrete, he says, and has encouraged him to value the present.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Bellotto was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Folha de S.Paulo published an interview in which Bellotto discussed his diagnosis and outlook.
The Brazilian Congress of Clinical Oncology is scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro.
Bellotto is due to give a lecture to 4,000 doctors during the congress.
- Diagnosis
- Pancreatic cancer, March 2025
- Age
- 66
- Band
- Titãs
- Lecture audience
- 4,000 doctors
- Congress location
- Rio de Janeiro
4 sources
Tony Bellotto reflete sobre câncer descoberto há mais de um ano: 'Enquanto estou tocando, a doença não existe'
"Não discuto com o destino": Tony Bellotto reflete sobre vida, morte e convivência pacífica com câncer
'Cada dia em que acordo é mais especial do que antes do diagnóstico do câncer', diz Tony Bellotto
'Cada dia em que acordo é mais especial do que antes do diagnóstico do câncer', diz Tony Bellotto
What people are saying
Each day I wake up is more special than it was before the diagnosis.
While I’m playing, the disease doesn’t exist.
You have to eliminate the drama. If you fall into the abyss of drama, you never get out of it. Let’s see what science has to offer.
I don’t discuss with destiny; whatever comes, I sign.