Michael Bolton had strange symptoms before brain cancer diagnosis: 'Something's wrong'

Michael Bolton, who was diagnosed in December 2023 with glioblastoma - the most aggressive and fastest-growing form of brain cancer - first exhibited signs that something was amiss the month prior, according to his daughters.

That same night, the singer had also fallen out of his chair, which was "very unusual," Taryn, 45, told the outlet.

"He's super athletic, and he doesn't drink," she said. "So he fell, and we were like, 'What just happened?'"

Looking back now, Bolton's daughters recognize "so many things" they missed. 

Earlier that fall, the Grammy winner had struggled to keep his balance and experienced nausea while performing at a charity event.

"He'd been working nonstop that whole time," Taryn recalled while speaking to People. 

"Traveling, doing shows, doing all of these things. We were like, he's getting older, he's tired, he's stressed out. All of these things we sort of explained in a way, one by one."

Following the strange symptoms while bowling, Bolton began experiencing headaches, his daughters shared.

"Although glioblastoma's cause isn't fully known, the disease begins when genetic changes in brain cells cause them to grow out of control," Canney, who was not involved in Bolton's care, told Fox News Digital.

"These cancerous cells rapidly invade surrounding brain tissue, making the tumor especially aggressive and hard to treat."

"While the symptoms of glioblastoma are not unique to this disease, anytime you or a loved one experience an unexplained change in behavior, mental awareness or motor control, it's important to see a medical professional."

He receives ongoing MRIs every two months to ensure that he is still clear of tumors.

Glioblastoma is among the deadliest cancers, with patients living for an average of just over a year after diagnosis. The five-year survival rate is less than 5%.

"It is truly among the most tragic diseases," Canney said.

Part of what makes glioblastoma so severe is its resistance to treatment, according to the expert.

"While this barrier keeps the brain safe from toxins and other harmful substances, it also blocks the life-saving chemotherapy drugs used in treating most cancers."

Other treatment options include radiation and chemotherapy, which can "modestly extend survival," he noted.

"If approved, this technology will enable doctors to safely and temporarily open the blood-brain barrier for the first time ever - allowing a greater number of potentially more effective chemotherapy drugs into the brain."