Bobby Womack has been diagnosed with colon cancer

Soul singer in first stage of treatment, upbeat about his future, according to his friend Bootsy Collins.

Soul singer Bobby Womack has been diagnosed with colon cancer.

The 68-year-old went into hospital over the weekend suffering from a bout of pneumonia but was later diagnosed with the condition.

Parliament-Funkadelic bassist Collins wrote on his Facebook page: ‘‘I JUST SPOKE TO OUR FRIEND BOBBY WOMACK. He Wanted You All to Know That He Loves You & Thxs for the Prayers. Docs Says He Is In 1st Stage of Colon Cancer, He is Very Up Beat About His Future, we laughed & joked before we hung up. Thxs Funkateers, we will get him Back on the One!’‘

Womack was forced to cancel a Houston show earlier this month, complaining of shortness of breath.

Having already survived prostate cancer, the singer has made an artistic comeback in recent years, working with Damon Albarn and now readying his first album in over a decade, ‘The Bravest Man in the Universe’, due on XL Recordings on June 11.

We wish Bobby Womack and those close to him the very best during this difficult time.