Raphael’s health has been worrying everyone since he was admitted to the Clinical Hospital of Madrid on December 17, and then transferred to the 12 de Octubre Hospital in the capital. He was recording a Christmas special for TVE with David Broncano when he had speech difficulties. It was believed that he could suffer a cerebrovascular accident, but after the first tests the doctors ruled out that it could be a stroke. We all breathed a little easier, since it was ensured that the artist was conscious at all times and that he remained under observation to rule out major illnesses, but they had their sights set on his medical discharge and his return to the stage. It won’t be possible, because this Thursday afternoon all the plans that had been previously set have completely fallen apart: the singer has been diagnosed with brain lymphoma.
Cancer changes everything. Raphael is worried about his health, but also especially about having met his fans last weekend in Madrid, where he had two concerts scheduled to close his tour. He was also promoting a new album, where he paid tribute to French artists and their great anthems, and then began a new tour next May 2025. At least those were his plans, because now Your health is paramount. You are obliged to cancel all your professional commitmentsmove away from the spotlight and focus exclusively on fighting the disease that was silently attacking him. Due to medical prescription, he must put aside his work, his great passion and, with it, his desire to remain on stage until his last breath.
It has been his three children, Manuel, Alejandra and Jacobo, who have reported on the medical news about their father. However, they have left it to the hospital to detail the important change in the diagnosis: “The patient Don Rafael Martos Sánchez, currently admitted to the 12 de Octubre University Hospital of the Community of Madrid, presents a primary brain lymphoma with two brain nodules in the left hemisphere that explain the neurological symptoms which he presented a few days ago. During your admission to this hospital Specific treatments have been initiated for this pathology which will continue on an outpatient basis. For this reason, he will likely be discharged in the coming days. In Madrid, on December 26, 2024.” This is what a statement said that fell like a bomb.
How has Raphael taken having to distance himself from his audience and quit his job? This question was asked of his family this Thursday in their constant movement in the aforementioned medical center. While waiting to be able to carry out the next phases of his treatment at home, his wife, Natalia Figueroa, has acknowledged that the artist is “resigning” to the idea to cancel all his professional commitments. But it’s what it takes. His children also responded to the same question: “We don’t know when he is going to go home. He’s fine in the mood. He wants to sing and continue, imagine how he took it (…) The thing about not being on stage, well The poor guy took it very badly, but hey, he also understands that it has to be that way. So nothing, we still have a long time left, surely, with which he will be able to do his concerts and resume tours,” Manuel Martos highlighted optimistically.