Adam “MCA” Yauch from The Beastie Boys has been diagnosed with cancer, he announced last night.

He explains in a video clip posted on their website that “two months ago I started to feel a lump in my throat, like when you have a cold so I thought nothing of it, then recently, about two weeks ago I decided to see my doctor about it, he sent me to a specialist and I was diagnosed with cancer.” He goes on to say that it’s in one of his glands in his throat and a nymph node in that area, but is positive saying “they’ve done tests and its localised only in that area and won’t effect my voice – which is convenient!”

The New York band who have had hits with Fight for Your Right (To Party) and Brass Monkey, have had to cancel all their summer shows for their US tour as he’ll have to undergo immediate treatment (which he apologises for), and they have also had to push back their new album Hot Sauce Committee Part I which was due out in September.

“It’s a little bit of a setback, it’s a pain in the ass, but this is something that’s very treatable,” he positively adds.

“I apologise to everybody, for anyone who’s made plans or was psyched to come to these shows that are coming up,” says Yauch. “We’ll be back doing this soon.”