Beastie Boy Adam Yauch diagnosed with cancer

Adam "MCA" Yauch, a founding member of rap group the Beastie Boys, said on Monday he has a cancerous tumor in his salivary gland, forcing the cancellation of the band's upcoming concerts.

Yauch said in an online video that the cancer is "very treatable in most cases," and it is localized in his neck and not affecting his vocal chords.

"I apologize to everybody, for anyone who's made plans or was psyched to come to these shows that are coming up," Yauch said. "We'll be back doing this, so that's what's up."

As a result of the diagnosis, the Beastie Boys will push back the release of their upcoming album "Hot Sauce Committee Part 1," the group's record label EMI said. The album had previously been set for release on Sept. 15, and the tour would have supported its launch. No new dates were set.

Yauch said he started feeling a lump in his throat about two months ago and he recently checked with a doctor and was diagnosed with the cancerous growth in his left salivary gland and an adjacent lymph node.

Yauch added that he expects to have surgery next week, and would follow that with radiation treatment.

Reuters interviewed Yauch last week and he seemed upbeat when talking about the future. His record label said Yauch was diagnosed with the tumor last week.

An announcement about the illness, made on beastieboys.com