Carly Simon, the American singer-songwriter, says she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In statements provided to media outlets including the Associated Press, the 83-year-old describes the condition as difficult and says it took time for her to understand the diagnosis, adjust to it, and decide how much to share publicly. Simon also explains that her reduced public presence has been linked to her health.

Multiple outlets report that Simon recently underwent treatment for skin cancer. The New York Times and other sources identify the skin cancer as basal cell carcinoma on her face, and Simon says she had surgery to treat it and feels self-conscious about being seen in public. Separate reporting notes she underwent hip and knee replacement surgeries after mobility problems, though the extent to which this is connected to Parkinson’s is not consistently detailed across accounts.

Overall, the reporting agrees that Simon is managing both Parkinson’s disease and skin cancer treatment, and that she is communicating her diagnoses to respond to questions from fans and to explain her recent silence.