Wade Hayes Cancer-Free: Singer Shares Happy News With Fans

It's been a hard road for 43-year-old country star Wade Hayes, who was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in late 2011. But after receiving treatment and surgery, the "Old Enough To Know Better" singer happily announced that he's cancer-free following a check-up on Nov. 26.

Speaking on Nashville's WSM radio station, he told listeners, "This past year has been a tough one. With the initial diagnosis, I was given between a one-in-eight and one-in-16 chance of making it through it. That was quite a blow. The folks at Vanderbilt [University Hospital] have been incredible, [and] God in heaven ... I give Him the thanks and the glory, because I shouldn't be here. I know it's a miracle. You are listening to a fella that is very thankful."

Wade added, "Through that ordeal, at first, things didn't look so rosy for me, but I've gotten better and better every day. We were kind of afraid that I might be getting sick again. We went through a bunch of tests, and I got the news that I am completely healthy and cancer-free. I can start my life as a normal person again. I'm so thankful to be here."

According to Taste of Country, a music video for his song "Is It Already Time," which Wade wrote about the experience, will be released in the next few weeks.

Because of Wade's bout with cancer, he also has become an advocate for cancer research and early detection. "The key to it is catching the disease early," he told Billboard in a September interview. "Colon Cancer is one of the leading killers in the United States for men and women, but it's also one of the most treatable if you catch it early enough. I ignored my symptoms, and just attributed them to something else until it was too late. I certainly don't want that to happen to someone else."

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