Although fans are fully aware of Bob Marley's Melanoma condition, only a couple knew about his supposed cancer treatment, which involved getting his toe removed. But did Bob Marley have his toe amputated? Read here.
What's Up with Bob Marley's Toe? Amputation Treatment Explained
Reggae legend Bob Marley was diagnosed with Melanoma four years before his death.
It is a type of skin cancer that develops when the cells that can turn skin brown or give it a tan (called melanocytes) start to grow out of control.
While Melanoma is much less common than other types of skin cancers, it can be just as dangerous leaving it be as it can spread to other parts of the body if not treated early.
Bob found out he had developed acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) in 1977 after sustaining a soccer injury. It was found under one of his toenails.
The doctors advised the Jamaican singer to have his toe amputated to prevent his cancer from spreading. However, Bob refused to have his toe removed as he feared it would affect his performance on tour.
Instead, he opted to have excisional surgery, in which the surgeon removed the nail and the tissue surrounding it.
Because he refused to have his toe amputated, Bob Marley collapsed in New York City in 1980 while he was jogging in Central Park.
He had to cancel his remaining live tours and sought out alternative treatments in Germany. He turned up with no new treatment, and the melanoma had already spread to his brain, lungs, and liver.
Bob Marley died at 36 years old on May 11, 1981, when he was flying over to Miami after coming back from Jamaica.
Considering that he could have prevented the cancer from spreading across his body, why did Bob Marley refuse to get his toe amputated in the first place? Here's why.
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Why Did Bob Refuse to Get Cancer Treatment?
Apart from the possibility that his toe amputation could harm his stage performances, his refusal of the treatment had something to do with his religion.
Keep in mind that at the time, Bob was a devout Rastafarian who was still sticking to its beliefs.
According to Rastafarian practices, cutting off any part of the body "temple" was considered a sin in the religion.
This belief was based on the passage from Leviticus 21:5 in the Old Testament, which said, "They shall not make baldness upon their heads, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh."
His latest biopic, Bob Marley: One Love, is now premiering in theaters.
READ NEXT: Bob Marley's Manager Don Taylor Took A Bullet for Him in 1976 Shooting
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