Symphonic metal vocalist Amanda Somerville has issued a statement on her brain tumor diagnosis, sharing details of her condition in comments posted on social media via Facebook.
Somerville explained that the news had been spreading among her fans faster than she could address it directly, and that she needed time to understand her situation before speaking publicly. She noted the difficulty of the past weeks as she underwent hospitals visits, scans and biopsies.
“My dear Somervillains, I owe you a personal word,” Somerville said. “Many of you have heard by now – the news has been traveling faster than I have – and I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to speak to you directly. These past weeks have been a blur of hospitals, scans, biopsies and difficult conversations, and I needed time to understand what we’re facing before I could find the words. And with 3 little girls, it’s imperative that I can function.”
Somerville revealed the specifics of her diagnosis and her current treatment.
“On September 8th, I was diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma (DMG) – an aggressive, cancerous brain tumor that is unfortunately not operable and is only treated to gain time,” she said. “I am currently undergoing radiation and chemotherapy here in Germany, and Sander Gommans is by my side through all of it.”
She emphasized that while the situation is serious, she is receiving quality care and exploring all available options.
“I won’t pretend this isn’t serious. It is. But I am being cared for by excellent doctors, and we are pursuing every option available to us, including new treatments that give us real reason for hope.”
Somerville concluded by thanking her fans for their support during this difficult period.
“Your messages, your prayers, your love – I have felt all of it, even in the silence,” she said. “Thank you for carrying me. For now, just knowing you’re with us means everything.”
The statement marks Somerville’s first direct public address of her condition since the diagnosis was revealed.
Somerville moved to Germany in 1999 to build her music career and has since become a respected figure in symphonic and metal music. She has recorded and performed with major acts including Epica, Kamelot, Avantasia, After Forever, Ayreon, and Edguy, and co-founded the band Exit Eden. She also works as a vocal coach within the metal scene and collaborates with Helloween’s Michael Kiske in the Kiske/Somerville project.
Somerville married After Forever guitarist Sander Gommans on July 26, 2014, and the couple has three daughters: Lana Elise, born in 2015, and twins Anya and Juliet, born in 2018. The news of her diagnosis was first shared on social media by Gommans on September 19, before Somerville addressed her condition directly to fans on October 11.
Diffuse midline glioma, formerly called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, is an aggressive form of brain cancer. The condition is most common in children, and there is no cure for DMG. Standard treatments include radiation therapy and chemotherapy, which aim to ease discomfort and extend life rather than cure the disease.
Researchers are currently studying new medicines and delivery methods to treat diffuse midline glioma, including new chemotherapy options that target genetic changes specific to DMG tumors. Somerville mentioned new treatments in her statement as a source of hope as she undergoes her current treatment plan in Germany.
