Bruce Springsteen on Patti Scialfa’s Cancer Diagnosis

Bruce Springsteen comments on Patti Scialfa's cancer diagnosis in the trailer for the new ABC special Bruce Springsteen: Backstage and Backstreets.

In the trailer, George Stephanopoulos asked Springsteen how his wife is doing now. He responds, "She's doing good. We caught it early, which was important. It's a tough disease. It's very fatiguing."

Stephanopoulos asks why Scialfa decided to reveal her diagnosis, and Springsteen said, "She hadn't played in the band in a long time, and people I don't think knew why. 'Where's Patti?'"

Bruce Springsteen: Backstage and Backstreets premieres on ABC on Sunday, October 20 at 10/9c. It will also be available to stream on Hulu.

Scialfa, a longtime member of the E Street Band revealed in the new documentary Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band that she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare type of blood cancer. News of her diagnosis made headlines after the documentary premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8.

Per People, the singer/guitarist says in the documentary, "I’ve been performing with this band for 40 years. With those first performances, it felt so good to be back onstage. Touring has become a challenge for me. In 2018, well, Bruce and I were doing a play on Broadway. I was diagnosed with early stage multiple myeloma."

Scialfa also says in Road Diary about her cancer, "This affects my immune system so I just have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go. Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs onstage, and that’s been a treat. That’s the new normal for me right now, and I’m OK with that."

Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band was first announced in May and will hit Hulu and Disney+ on October 25.

Per Springsteen's website, the doc will contain "unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access" to The Boss' 2023-24 tour with the E Street Band, including rehearsal footage and a look at how Springsteen crafts a setlist.

The documentary's announcement noted, "In this way, it serves as an essential and never-before-seen chapter in an autobiographical series spanning Springsteen’s memoir 'Born to Run,' 'Springsteen on Broadway,' and the films 'Western Stars' and 'Letter to You.'"

Directing Road Diary is Thom Zimny, who has been a longtime collaborator of Springsteen's and has also directed Springsteen on Broadway and Western Stars. As expected, the concert documentary will feature unique, professionally shot footage of Springsteen's current tour with the E Street Band, as well as sitdown interviews and commentary from the band.