LONDON (AFP) - Singer Morrissey has revealed that he had been treated for cancer.

In an e-mail interview in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the 55-year-old singer said he had "cancerous tissue" removed four times.

"If I die. then I die," he was quoted as saying.

In June, he was forced to cancel the remainder of his United States tour after collapsing and being taken to hospital due to a respiratory illness.

Last year, he also scrapped a series of US dates after suffering a bleeding ulcer, Barrett's oesophagus and double pneumonia.

Famous for hits in the 1980s with the Smiths including Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now, Morrissey released his first solo album in 1988 and has followed it up with nine records. He is considered hugely influential for the indie rock scene.

He is currently on a European tour. His fans in Britain expressed shock at the news. "My world has just collapsed," said one of hundreds of messages posted to the singer's official Facebook page.

The singer published his autobiography last year and is working on his debut novel.