On July 20, doctors diagnosed the Beastie Boy member with cancer of the left salivary gland.
As a result of this tragic news, the group delayed the release of their new album, Hot Sauce Committee Part 1, originally scheduled for September 15 and cancelled all concert dates.
In a message to his fans, Yauch said that he is recovering quickly. Doctors immediately operated to remove the tumor and he returned home after spending one night in the hospital.
He explained that after his short hospital stay, he returned home, "to relax, have home cooked food and hang out with the family."
The musician must also undergo further treatments. "The next line of treatment, which will be a seven-week course of radiation, should start in a few weeks," wrote the artist.
Yauch also said that he was touched by the encouragement he received over the last few days. This includes the piano interpretation of his song (You’ve Got to Fight For Your Right (to Party) by Chris Martin of Coldplay and Jay-Z’s adaptation of No Sleep Till Brooklyn.