Patti Scalfa, Bruce Springsteen's wife and E Street Band member, revealed that she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, in 2018.
Scalfa opened up about her diagnosis in the new documentary “Road Diaries: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band,” which premiered Sunday night at the Toronto Film Festival. In the film, a reflective look at the rock legend and his tight-knit group of collaborators, Scalfa shared that her illness made it difficult for her to perform. As a result, she took a step back from touring.
“It affects my immune system, so I have to be careful about what I choose to do and where I choose to go,” she said in the film. “Every once in a while, I go to a show or two and I get to sing a few songs on stage, and that’s fun. That’s the new normal for me now, and I’m okay with that.”
Scalfa did not attend the film's premiere on Sunday. The 71-year-old has been a member of the E Street Band since 1984 and married Springsteen in 1991. Scalfa was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band in 2014. In “Road Diaries,” she says that performing on stage with her husband gives audiences “a side of our relationship that you don't normally see.”
Springsteen has also struggled with health issues and postponed his 2023 tour after being diagnosed with stomach ulcers. Earlier this year, he rescheduled some shows “under doctor's supervision” as the singer continued to struggle with “vocal issues.”
“Road Diaries” features footage from Springsteen’s latest world tour and an intimate look at the behind-the-scenes planning. The film also serves as a meditation on morality. However, the 74-year-old Springsteen stressed at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere that he has no plans to retire anytime soon. He wants to keep performing until “the wheels stop turning.”
