In a film called Road Diary, a musician shared that she found out she had blood cancer in 2018, making her stop touring and performing live.
Patti Scialfa’s Revelation
Patti Scialfa, Bruce Springsteen’s wife, opened up in the new documentary Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band about her 2018 blood cancer diagnosis, which forced her to step away from the stage.
Challenges of Returning to Stage
“It felt so good to be back on stage. Touring has become a challenge for me,” Scialfa said in the film that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday. “This affects my immune system, so I have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go.”
Living with Multiple Myeloma
Scialfa, who has been with Springsteen since 1991 and part of the E Street Band since 1984, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. This rare cancer develops in plasma cells in the bone marrow. In healthy marrow, these cells make antibodies to fight infections.
“Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs on stage, and that’s been a treat. That’s the new normal for me right now, and I’m OK with that,” she continued, according to Variety. In 2020, Rolling Stone chatted with her about life during the pandemic. She discussed her music projects and mentioned cutting Springsteen’s hair. She also said, “I’m a bit high-risk because of something I have in my health. My children are very cautious.”
Fans think it’s inspiring how she keeps going despite the challenges.
Behind the Scenes of Their Tour
The Springsteen on Broadway show was in full swing when Scialfa got her diagnosis, finishing its first run in December 2018. The Road Diary documentary shows behind-the-scenes moments of their ongoing tour, set to end in July 2025. The film will be available on Hulu and Disney+ starting Oct. 25.
