George Harrison 'knows he will die soon' from cancer
( 2001-07-23 11:49 ) (7 )

Ex-Beatle George Harrison has admitted that he expects to die soon from cancer, the group's former producer was quoted on Sunday as saying.

Ex-Beatle George Harrison has admitted that he expects to die soon from cancer, the group's former producer was quoted on Sunday as saying.

The 58-year-old musician has been treated for a brain tumor at a clinic in Switzerland, having already undergone an operation for lung cancer earlier this year.

The Mail on Sunday said Harrison had told his friend and former producer George Martin, dubbed the ``fifth Beatle,'' that he does not have long to live.

Martin told the newspaper: ``He is taking it easy and hoping that the thing will go away. He has an indomitable spirit but he knows that he is going to die soon and he is accepting that.''

Spokesmen for Harrison and Martin could not be immediately reached for comment.

Martin added: ``George is very philosophical. He does realize that everybody has got to die some time.

``He has been near death many times and he's been rescued many times as well. But he knows he is going to die soon and he's accepting it perfectly happily.''

Two weeks ago, Harrison told his fans he was feeling fine after undergoing radiotherapy at a Swiss cancer clinic.

Swiss cancer specialist Franco Cavalli confirmed that he had recently treated Harrison.

At the beginning of May, Harrison had surgery at the Mayo Clinic in the United States to remove a cancerous growth from one of his lungs.

Harrison overcame throat cancer in 1998, which he blamed on smoking. He was given the all-clear after radiation therapy.

Just over 18 months ago, Harrison survived a life-and-death struggle of a very different kind -- with a knife-wielding intruder who stabbed him in the chest.

The former Beatle was almost killed in the attack at his home near London in late 1999. He was saved by wife Olivia, who hit the attacker on the head with a poker and table lamp.

Harrison was known as the ``quiet Beatle'' during the heyday of the ``Fab Four'' in the 1960s and was rated as a major musician in his own right only after the breakup of the group in 1970.

The reserved Liverpudlian lived for many years in the shadow of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, but after the group broke up he released a triple album, ``All Things Must Pass,'' which made his name as both a guitarist and songwriter, and enjoyed a worldwide smash hit with ``My Sweet Lord.''