Rock icon Bruce Springsteen announced Wednesday that he is postponing tour dates for the rest of the month after being diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease.

In a statement, Springsteen said his medical advisers recommended he postpone his September tour dates starting with his planned show in Syracuse Thursday night. Still, ‘The Boss’ promised fans on social media that he’d be back to performing soon.

“Over here on E Street, we’re heartbroken to have to postpone these shows,” he stated. “First, apologies to our fabulous Philly fans who we missed a few weeks ago. We’ll be back to pick these shows up and then some. Thank you for your understanding and support. We’ve been having a blast at our US shows and we’re looking forward to more great times. We’ll be back soon.

Springsteen’s abrupt tour postponement has drawn renewed public interest in peptic ulcer disease, which while incidence of the condition has dropped significantly, remains a common problem facing patients nationwide.

Peptic ulcer disease is recognized by an open sore or raw area in the lining of the stomach or an intestine, according to Infectious Disease Advisor. While many patients are asymptomatic, the most common symptoms are bleeding or perforation.

Risk factors that contribute to peptic ulcer disease include the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, H. pylori infection, smoking as well as genetic factors.

More than 4 million people are affected by a peptic ulcer each year and the estimated lifetime prevalence is between 5% to 10%.

Diagnosis can be determined through an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and in many cases, the disease can be confirmed intra-operatively when a patient presents with perforation.

Cancer Therapy Advisor noted that over the past 25 years, the usage of H2-blocking agents and proton-pump inhibitors, along with the diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori infections, has turned the condition from a surgical disease to a typically medically-treated one.

The most common treatment involves antibiotics to kill H. pylori as well as medications to block acid production and promote internal healing.

Still, severe cases that would require critical care management would involve collaboration between “internists, surgeons, gastroenterologists and interventional radiologists” on behalf of the patient.