On Wednesday (September 6), Bruce Springsteen took to his website and social media accounts to share some concerning news with his fans. After speaking with his medical team, the 73-year-old rock artist will be postponing his September shows after experiencing symptoms of peptic ulcer disease.
“Over here on E Street, we’re heartbroken to have to postpone these shows. First, apologies to our fabulous Philly fans who we missed a few weeks ago,” he wrote in the statement – referring to the two shows at Citizens Bank Park (home of the Philadelphia Phillies) that he was forced to cancel last month.
“We’ll be back to pick these shows up and then some. Thank you for your understanding and support. We’ve been having a blast at our U.S. shows and we’re looking forward to more great times. We’ll be back soon,” he continued in the statement – their next performance will be in Toronto on November 3.
His statement has a lot of fans around the world asking the same questions – what is peptic ulcer disease and how serious is it? A peptic ulcer, commonly referred to as a stomach ulcer, is an open sore that forms in the lining of the stomach (AKA gastric ulcer) or the first part of the small intestine (AKA duodenal ulcer).
Believe it or not, peptic ulcer disease is more common than you’d think – occurring in more than 4 million people worldwide every single year. Roughly 10% of the population will experience a peptic ulcer(s) at least once in their lifetime and nearly 30% of those who experience it won’t feel any pain as a result.
There are two primary causes of peptic ulcer disease – infection with Helicobacter pylori and the use of NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). H. pylori is a bacteria commonly found in the stomach of infected people, while NSAIDs are medications used to treat pain (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.).
Some of the most common symptoms of peptic ulcer disease include stomach pain (primarily in the upper abdomen), nausea, vomiting, feeling bloated or full, and bloody stools. The easiest ways to diagnose peptic ulcer disease is with an EGD (upper endoscopy), an upper GI series (X-ray test), or a blood test.
Bruce Springsteen Will Be Back Soon
Bruce Springsteen didn’t clarify what his symptoms were, when his symptoms started to appear, or how much pain he was in, but he’s confident he’ll return soon and is simply following the recommendation of his medical team. He’s also vowing to reschedule the postponed tour dates for those who bought tickets.
The eight shows being postponed were originally scheduled for Syracuse, NY on September 7, Baltimore, MD on September 9, Pittsburgh, PA on September 12 and 14, Uncasville, CT on September 16, Albany NY on September 19, Columbus, Ohio on September 21, and Washington, DC on September 29.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band set out on their current tour on February 1 in Tampa, FL – it was his first full-fledged tour since 2017, so fans were very excited to see him perform around the world. The heavily-anticipated tour includes 66 concerts in 51 locations across the United States and Europe.
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For those who are worried about Bruce Springsteen and his health, don’t panic – peptic ulcer disease is very easy to treat once found. Considering how common this disease is, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with your doctor if you start to experience similar symptoms – it could be life-saving!