Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The band’s publicity team released an optimistic statement along with the sad news.

“He is undergoing treatment and is expected to make a full recovery as it was caught in the early stages,” the statement said.

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“The Wyman family has asked for their privacy during this time.”

Wyman played with the Rolling Stones from 1962 to 1993, and in the early days was the oldest member and the only member of the band who was married.

He caused a scandal in 1989 when he married 18-year-old Mandy Smith, who Wyman had apparently been dating since she was 13. The marriage lasted just two years and received a lot of media attention.

In 1993, Wyman married his last wife Susan Accosta, with whom he has three daughters.

Wyman diversified his interests after leaving the Stones after 30 years in 1993, and is now a keen metal detector, restauranter and author.

Wyman even designed and marketed the ‘Bill Wyman signature metal detector’ which he used to find ancient Roman relics in the English countryside.