It was no secret that Buffett was having problems with his health, but many people were unsure exactly what those health issues were. It has recently been disclosed that Buffett was diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma four years ago, as reported by People. Merkel cell carcinoma occurs when Merkel cells grow too large and the disease spreads to tissue, the lymphatic system, and the blood, as described by the National Cancer Institute. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy are some treatment options available for Merkel cell carcinoma.
His Merkel cell carcinoma later developed into lymphoma, which was Buffett’s official cause of death, as noted by the New York Post. Lymphoma is classified into four stages and leads to an overabundance of abnormal white blood cells that interfere with the lymphatic system, according to the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.
Buffett was receiving cancer treatments and kept performing until he was too ill to do so. His final performance was a surprise appearance at a Mac McAnally show and the crowd went wild when they saw him, according to USA Today. Following the Rhode Island show, Buffett’s health worsened to the point that he had to cancel several shows. Earlier this year, Buffett revealed in a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter) that he was admitted to the hospital to “address some issues that needed medical attention.”