The 68-year-old Grammy winner isn’t about to get into the specifics of her health problem but she wants to make one thing clear: “I don’t know where ‘pancreatic cancer’ came from,” Aretha told Access Hollywood in a phone interview on Thursday. “I was sitting there reading the newspaper and it was saying someone in my family said that. No one in my family ever said that to anybody.”

Aretha did reveal that she sought treatment after experiencing a pain in her side that was so hard it almost brought her to her knees.

We can expect Aretha to be around for a LONG time:

“[My doctor] said, ‘The surgery that you just had is going to add 15 to 20 more years to your life,” she said, adding that she’s slimmed “down to a rockin’ [size] 16-18. It’s getting better every day. I plan on keeping this weight that I have now — I’m so happy with it.”

So good to hear. Aretha has always said that losing weight is by far the hardest thing in life for her.

photos: Fame

Aretha underwent surgery for a mystery illness about a month ago. And rumor has it that she had pancreatic cancer. The National Enquirer reported recently that Aretha has incurable pancreatic cancer. The rag lists pancreatic survival rates at 5-10%, and even lower for someone of Franklin’s age and weight. Patrick Swayze died from the same form of cancer in September last year.

Fox 2 News quoted Franklin herself as saying she had “highly successful” surgery recently. “God is still in control. I had superb doctors and nurses whom were blessed by all the prayers of the city and the country,” she said.

Franklin cancelled a number of concerts back in October citing “health reasons,” and in early November, she has cancelled all engagements for the next six months.

The death rumor could just be a hoax. We’ll keep you updated.

Our prayers go out to Aretha and in God we trust always.

photos: Fame

The National Enquirer reports that Aretha has incurable pancreatic cancer. The rag lists pancreatic survival rates at  5-10%, and even lower for someone of Franklin’s age and weight. Patrick Swayze died from the same form of cancer in September last year.

Fox 2 News quoted Franklin herself as saying she had “highly successful” surgery last week. “God is still in control. I had superb doctors and nurses whom were blessed by all the prayers of the city and the country,” she said.

Franklin cancelled a number of concerts back in October citing “health reasons,” and in early November, she has cancelled all engagements for the next six months.

Our prayers go out to Aretha and in God we trust always.

photos: Fame

Did you think Aretha did a good job?