AceShowbiz - Chad Gilbert, lead guitarist of New Found Glory, faced a frightening health crisis during the band’s 12th album release party in Nashville. On the very day the album Listen Up! was unveiled, Gilbert’s hand suddenly stopped responding while onstage, a symptom he had never experienced before despite years of battling cancer.

That evening in February 2026, Gilbert struggled to control not just his hands but the entire left side of his body. He had even vomited earlier in the green room before performing and required assistance from bandmates to reach the chair from which he played. This alarming loss of motor control was unlike previous side effects he had endured throughout his five-year battle with a rare adrenal gland cancer and its treatments.

“The show was amazing, but something wasn’t right,” Gilbert, 45, shared during a Zoom interview. Sitting in bed at his home near Nashville, wearing a navy green Buffy the Vampire Slayer t-shirt and a black baseball cap, his voice was hoarse and occasionally shaky. A winter glove covered his left hand, a visible mark of his recent health struggles. It had been only a week since he returned home following a month-long hospital stay.

Reflecting on the night of the album release, Gilbert recalled, “I came home, and as I walked up the steps, I fell forward onto the ground.” He spent the subsequent weekend bedridden, with his left side progressively losing strength and control. The severity of his condition prompted urgent medical intervention.

Lisa Cimorelli, Gilbert’s wife, explained that their doctor quickly consulted with a brain and spine radiologist after observing his symptoms. The radiologist instructed immediate emergency care. The next morning’s scans revealed three new brain tumors. One tumor, about the size of a walnut, was pressing on the back right side of Gilbert’s brain, causing the paralysis of his left side.

Since his initial diagnosis in 2021 with metastatic pheochromocytoma of the liver, which later evolved into adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) spreading to various parts of his body, Gilbert has openly chronicled his health journey. On March 23, shortly before leaving the hospital, he shared a detailed Instagram post about discovering the three brain tumors and undergoing surgery to remove one.

Despite the harrowing experience, Gilbert’s resilience shines through. “I feel very, very lucky that I could sit here and do this interview,” he said, highlighting his gratitude after such a traumatic period. The day following his brain tumor surgery, his condition seemed to improve significantly. Nurses who had grown close to the couple sent videos to Cimorelli of Gilbert waving with his left hand—a milestone that felt miraculous.

However, the road to recovery was not straightforward. Just as he was set to move from the ICU to a rehabilitation floor, Gilbert’s sodium levels plummeted, causing serious complications. “His sodium is crashing,” Cimorelli recalled hearing from medical staff. Gilbert’s progress faltered as he slipped into a state of drowsiness, losing much of the cognitive function he had regained.

Further MRI and CT scans revealed that fluid accumulation around the tumor was increasing pressure on Gilbert’s brain. This complication severely impacted his ability to stay awake and organize his thoughts. Cimorelli described the difficulty in witnessing the regression of his condition, noting how hard it was for him to remain alert or coherent during that time.

The musician has few memories from this critical phase but vividly recalls hallucinations caused by his altered mental state. “At the hospital, they’d ask me what kind of food I wanted to order. I thought I was in Japan and said, ‘Can I have Okinawaki?’” he shared with a mix of humor and disbelief. To address the remaining two tumors, Gilbert underwent 10 rounds of radiation aimed at shrinking them.

Throughout the interview, Gilbert frequently scratched his scalp, apologizing for what he described as a radiation burn. His current treatment plan focuses on immunotherapy designed to cross the blood-brain barrier and prevent further cancer growth in his brain. He is also receiving a diabetes-specific medication, a pioneering treatment for ACC, of which he is the first patient. Research based on his case is expected to be published in a medical journal.

Despite all the setbacks, Gilbert maintains a positive outlook. “It felt good to know that there’s still a battle going on and that I can recover and grow stronger from this,” he expressed. His primary hope is to regain his energy and strength so he can resume daily activities. “I don’t want to lay in bed all day. I want to get up and do my thing.”

Looking ahead, New Found Glory will begin a tour with Yellowcard in May and is scheduled to perform in Nashville on June 8. Gilbert acknowledges that touring as he once did is no longer feasible. “I won’t be able to tour normally ever again,” he admitted. However, he hopes to play shows nearby, even if that means sitting during performances. Cimorelli confirmed that one of his main goals is to be strong enough to appear at the upcoming Nashville show.

Chad Gilbert’s story is a testament to the challenges faced by cancer patients and the determination required to confront a relentless illness. His openness about the physical and emotional turmoil of his diagnosis, treatments, and recovery provides a rare and inspiring glimpse into the life of an artist fighting to keep his music and life going despite overwhelming odds.