Depeche Mode front-man Dave Gahan underwent surgery to remove a malignant growth this week, almost three weeks after the band abruptly halted their world tour when the iconic frontman fell ill. The band have since postponed nine gigs, though in a statement released on the band’s official website they have said they’ll return to the stage in Leipzig, Germany on June 8.

“On May 12th, lead singer Dave Gahan suffered a severe bout of gastroenteritis, leading to his hospitalization and the cancellation of the Athens concert. While in hospital, further medical tests revealed a low-grade malignant tumour in Dave’s bladder, which has since been successfully removed,” the statement revealed. “At doctors’ orders Dave Gahan must take a break until June 8th, to ensure that he makes a full recovery,” it added.

Bladder cancer support group portal ‘Bladder Cancer Web Café describe the disease as ‘one of the most preventable cancers’ on their website with tobacco smoking its primary cause, though warn that its recurrence rate is 80%. “The American Cancer Society estimates that 2006 will see 61,420 new cases of bladder cancer diagnosed in the United States, with approximately 13,060 deaths,” the site adds. “There are currently 600,000 bladder cancer survivors in the U.S.”