Ronnie James Dio's Wife Gives Us The Low-Down

Former Black Sabbath star Ronnie James Dio's wife/manager has thanked fans for their outpouring of support as the rocker continues his battle with stomach cancer - insisting chemotherapy treatment is "going well".

The 67-year-old was due to begin a tour across Europe with his band Dio late last month but he was forced to call off the trek after doctors told him he must begin treatment to combat the disease.

Dio recently completed his first grueling round of chemotherapy successfully, and his wife Wendy is thanking fans and her husband's dedicated medical team for helping him pave the way for a triumphant stage return.

She says, "Well, it has been a very exhausting month. After all the never-ending tests in Los Angeles, we flew to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, and as soon as we arrived, we got a call from the MD Anderson Hospital that they had an appointment for us with the doctor we originally wanted, so we then flew to Houston to the clinic, and, of course, MORE tests, but Ronnie finished receiving his first chemo treatment on Wednesday, and all is going very well..."

"Ronnie and I are totally overwhelmed by the amount of well-wishes that we have received from friends and fans - we are reading them all. Some make us laugh, some make us cry, but all of them are so filled with love that it gives us so much support and makes Ronnie even more determined to fight this battle and win. Thank you all for the positive energy and prayers."

Dio joined Black Sabbath in 1979 to replace Ozzy Osbourne, but he quit the band in 1982 to form Dio with drummer Vinny Appice.
Let's all send one out to Ronnie and his family.