Patti Scialfa, Bruce Springsteen‘s wife and E Street bandmate, has revealed she was diagnosed in 2018 with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer.
Scialfa addressed her diagnosis in the new documentary “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band,” which premiered on Sunday night at the Toronto Film Festival. In the film, a contemplative look at the rock legend and his tight-knit group of collaborators, she shared that her illness has made it difficult for her to perform. As a result, she’s taken a step back from touring.
“This affects my immune system, so I have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go,” she said in the film. “Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs on stage, and that’s been a treat. That’s the new normal for me right now, and I’m OK with that.”
Scialfa didn’t attend Sunday’s premiere. The 71-year-old has been a member of the E Street Band since 1984 and married Springsteen in 1991. Scialfa was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band in 2014. In “Road Diary,” she says that performing on stage with her husband offers the audience “a side of our relationship that you usually don’t get to see.”
Springsteen, too, has faced health issues and postponed his tour in 2023 after he was diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease. Earlier this year, he rescheduled some shows under “doctor’s direction” as the singer continued to suffer “vocal issues.”
“Road Diary” features footage from Springsteen’s latest world tour and an intimate look at the backstage planning. The film also served as a meditation on morality. However, the 74-year-old Springsteen emphasized at the TIFF premiere that he doesn’t plan to retire any time soon. He wants to keep performing until “the wheels come off.”