Beastie Boys member diagnosed with cancer

The band members will now cancel their tour dates and postpone their new CD release titled “Hot Sauce Committee Part 1.”

In a video statement posted on the group’s Web site, Yauch said  “About two months ago I started feeling a little lump in my throat.  I started think I should talk to my doctor, and he sent me to a specialist, and they did tests, and I actually have a form of cancer.”

“The good news is that they did scans of my whole body and it’s only localized this one place, and it’s not in a place that effects my voice, so that’s nice,” he said with a laugh. “This is something that’s very treatable in most cases, they’re able to completely get rid of it and people don’t have continuing problems with it and it’s not anywhere else in my body.”

The Beastie Boys formed in 1981.  Their most notable song is “Fight For Your Right” from their album “Licensed To Ill.”