Morrissey fans in Britain expressed shock on Tuesday following an email interview in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo in which the singer said he had been treated for cancer.
“My world has just collapsed,” said one of hundreds of messages posted to the singer’s official Facebook page.
“Get well soon mozza, inspiration to millions,” read another. “I’ve always loved this guy, I always will, truly madly deeply,” another added.
Morrissey, who is currently on a European tour, in the interview said he had “cancerous tissue” removed four times. “If I die, then I die,” he was quoted as saying.
In June, he was forced to cancel the remainder of his US tour after collapsing and being taken to hospital due to a respiratory illness.
Last year, he also scrapped a series of US dates after suffering a bleeding ulcer, Barrett’s oesophagus and double pneumonia.
The True-To-You fan website, which Morrissey often uses to make statements, carried no news about the singer’s health.
Famous for hits in the 1980s with the Smiths, including Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now, the prickly 55-year-old singer released his first solo album in 1988 and has followed it up with a further nine records.
He is considered hugely influential for the indie rock scene.
