Mexico City, Nov 2 (IANS/EFE): Ranchera music idol Vicente Fernandez will undergo an operation to have a "lump" removed from his liver after it was detected several days ago and he was forced to cancel his concerts for the rest of the year, his publicist announced Thursday.

On Oct 22, the 72-year-old singer publicly announced that he was going to have a medical checkup after the small lump was detected on his liver, and now doctors have determined that it needs to be removed and analyzed.

Fernandez is in Houston, Texas, accompanied by his wife, children, grandchildren and sisters, and from there he sent a message assuring his fans that he was calm and hopeful about the outcome of the upcoming surgery.

"I feel calm, with a lot of optimism and much faith that all will turn out fine in the operation. I've been very pampered by my whole family, who have been at my side all through this process," he said.

"I give infinite thanks to you for your displays of affection, to the public, to the communications media, for keeping an eye out and being concerned for me. I ask everyone to keep praying for my health," he said.