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Pavarotti "Fighting Like A Lion" In Cancer Battle

by Daniel Zugna - July 13 2007
photo by Ros O'Gorman

Luciano Pavarotti's wife has told an Italian newspaper her husband is "fighting like a lion" in his battle with pancreatic cancer.

The opera legend has been undergoing extensive radiotherapy in a bid to rid his body of the malignant tumour, diagnosed in July last year.

"He's reacting well to a fifth cycle of radiotherapy," Nicoletta Mantovani told 'La Stampa' newspaper. "He's fighting like a lion and he has never lost his heart, also because a family he adores is by his side."

"He's determined and results are encouraging," she said. "Despite the heavy treatment he has not lost weight – which by the way he would have liked – or his hair."

Reports from earlier in the year suggested the tenor was close to death, claims Mantovani said were greatly exaggerated.