(RxWiki News) Robin Gibb, singer with the rock group the Bee Gees, has died after battling colon cancer, which had spread to his liver.
"The family of Robin Gibb, of the Bee Gees, announce with great sadness that Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery," reads the statement. "The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time."
The 62-year-old Gibb had recently released his first classical piece - "The Requiem to the Titanic" - which he composed with his son Robin-John to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Gibb was too ill to attend the world premiere on April 11.
Gibb had been diagnosed with colon cancer after undergoing surgery for a twisted intestine 18 months ago. It was reported late last year that the cancer had spread to his liver.
In February 2012 Gibb announced he'd had what he called a "spectacular" recovery."
He was quoted as saying, "'The prognosis is that it's almost gone and I feel fantastic and really from now on it's just what they could describe as a 'mopping-up' operation." Weeks later, he underwent additional surgery.
About 103,000 cases of colon cancer are diagnosed in the United States every year, along with 40,300 cases of rectal cancer. The third most common form of cancer in this country, colorectal cancer causes about 52,000 deaths each year.
Unlike other cancers, colorectal cancer does not spread (metastasize) to the bone or lungs first. Instead, the liver is usually the first place it metastasizes.
The soundtrack to the 1977 film "Saturday Night Fever" put the Bee Gees on the world stage. The song became part of discomania that swept the world in the 1970s.
Robin Gibb, who was in the band with his brother Barry, sang the theme song on that soundtrack - Stayin' Alive. Other big hits included: Lonely Days, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart and Massachusetts.
