Alongside David Cook’s winning this 7th season of American Idol, a bit of contradicting news came from DC’s former roommate while in the competition, Luke Menard.

This 29-year-old singer has been diagnosed with lymphoma and is in treatment for the disease back in his hometown, Indiana.

A relative of his said that Luke thought he had walking pneumonia when he first sought medical treatment for a persistent cough. After doctors ran several tests, they found a mass behind his heart and removed a node from under his left collarbone. A biopsy showed the mass to be a symptom of Stage Two Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system.

Of course, the other contestants of American Idol didn’t just stay put. They give their support for Luke. David Cook and Carly Smithson spared their time to visit Luke at the hospital, while others send encouraging emails.

The relative added, “He is surrounded by his family, They want to help him beat this and move on”. Good news for Luke, with treatment, the survival rate is about 95 percent.

Get Well Soon Luke!

Image was taken from http://www.americanidol.com