New Found Glory rocker Chad Gilbert, 45, fights back tears as he returns to the stage in a wheelchair and thanks doctors for 'keeping me alive' amid battle with rare adrenal cancer

Chad Gilbert was left fighting back tears as he returned to the stage in a wheelchair for his first show in Nashville amid his battle with rare adrenal cancer. 

The New Found Glory rocker, 45, revealed he was left 'struggling to control' the movements of his left hand during a gig in Nashville on February 20. 

He was then rushed to hospital by medics three days later when he began stumbling and falling. 

The guitarist revealed four years ago that he had been diagnosed with a rare adrenal gland cancer called pheochromocytoma.

And at his show last week the star became emotional as he gave a special shout out to the medical professionals who have treated him since his diagnosis.

He said: 'I want to thank all of the nurses and doctors who have kept me alive for the past four years.

'I want to be here with my four-year-old daughter who wouldn't have seen me play tonight if it wasn't for you, so thank you.'

Back in February the star was taken to hospital after struggling to control the movements in his hand and after a CT scan he found out three new tumors had appeared in his brain. 

He then underwent brain surgery and luckily regained the function of his left hand immediately. 

Taking to Instagram he penned: 'My radiation oncologist described it like this: “this is not a fatal blow and not the end of your story, just the beginning of a new chapter.” 

'My recovery has been bumpy at times but I’m feeling much better now and getting stronger by the day. Thankful to everyone who’s checked in on me and helped my family during this lengthy and challenging journey. 

'Love you all and am looking forward to sharing more music and fun with you as we come out of this.'

Chad was first diagnosed with cancer in 2021 after his wife Lisa Cimorelli found him unconscious in bed.

After being rushed to hospital, doctors discovered Chad had a large adrenal gland tumour that had spread to his liver.

He underwent surgery to remove the growth, along with half of his liver and gallbladder and was declared cancer-free the following month.

However, in August 2022, the rare cancer returned to his spine, forcing the musician to undergo a gruelling six-hour operation.

The following year, medics discovered nodules in his lungs and he received chemotherapy.

Chad was previously married to Paramore's Hayley Williams, with the pair first getting together in 2008 before saying 'I do' in 2016.

However, their marriage was short-lived, with the former couple separating the following year and finalising their divorce several months later.

Hayley previously shared how she battled depression following their divorce and sought inpatient treatment.

'I had to get therapy. I was having a lot of bad dreams,' she said.

Hayley went on: 'My most memorable recurring dreams from childhood are all water related. I started to have a lot of those again. It resulted in me having panic attacks, and I ended up in a hospital.'