November 18, 2009
By Simon Cable
London - Andrew Lloyd Webber was back in hospital on Tuesday night after suffering a setback in his battle against prostate cancer.
The 61-year-old composer was said to have developed a postoperative infection following surgery to remove his prostate three weeks ago.
He was taken to a hospital in London, where he is likely to remain for two or three days while he is treated.
Lord Lloyd-Webber was initially said to be keen to explore alternative therapies after discovering he had the disease, but changed his mind after being told he had virtually a "100 percent chance" of a full recovery if he had the operation.
He was described by friends as being "fed up" on Tuesday night after hearing the news that he would have to return to hospital.
A statement was released on his website yesterday which read: "Andrew has been re-admitted to hospital following his operation for prostate cancer.
"He has been advised that while the operation was entirely successful, he has developed a post-operative 'chronic infection' which needs immediate treatment."
A friend said last night: "Andrew is fed up and just wants to be back at home, but it is not too serious."
Lloyd Webber's assistant Jan Eade last week told how his had received another setback which had been caused by the appendix operation he had when he was a child.
She said: "A complication has arisen It took him a bit longer than is usual because the operation was complicated by the fact that he had his appendix extracted when he was three.
"Andrew says that this was apparently done by a bloke with a meat clever and the scar tissue and other debris left behind meant that the prostate operation was not straightforward."
Dr Jonathan Waxman, a leading prostate cancer expert, said 'We wish Andrew better, and there is every prospect this problem will be quickly dealt with.
"Recovery in up to five percent of operations is complicated by this kind of infection.
The type of organism which causes these infections needs to be treated with intravenous antibiotics which is the reason he's had to go back into hospital. Antibiotics taken orally will not be effective", he added.
The disease is the most common cancer in men and he is still expected to make a full recovery because a blood test revealed doctors had caught it in its early stages.
The composer had hoped to be back at work in time to start rehearsals for his new show, Love Never Dies, which are due to begin in January.
Next year he is busier than ever, with the launch of a TV show to find a Dorothy and Toto for a theatrical production of The Wizard of Oz. He has already taken part in three BBC series, to find leads for the West End musicals How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do and Oliver!
Lloyd Webber is one of the most prolific composers, and is best known for Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Starlight Express and The Phantom of the Opera.
He owns seven West End theatres including the world-renowned London Palladium. His estimated wealth is put at more than £800-million.
Earlier this month, he launched the long-awaited sequel to Phantom, Love Never Dies, at Her Majesty's Theatre in London.
Meanwhile, Phantom, which has been seen by about 100 million theatre-goers worldwide, opened about 23 years ago. His company, the Really Useful Group, is one of the largest theatre operators in London.
Married three times, Lloyd Webber wed his first wife, Sarah Hugill, in 1972, and had two children, Imogen, now 32, and Nicholas, 30, before divorcing her in 1983.
He married second wife Sarah Brightman the following year and they remained together for six years.
In 1991, he married his current wife, Madeleine Gurdon, and the couple had three children - Alastair, 17, William, 14, and Isabella, 13. - Daily Mail
  
 
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