Aretha Franklin: "I Never Had Pancreatic Cancer"

Aretha Franklin is finally opening up--somewhat--about her recent health issues.  She says she did have surgery, she was in the hospital, and she is recovering...but not from pancreatic cancer.  Deets after the jump...
News organizations all over the world reported the news that Aretha Franklin had pancreatic cancer.  Especially after her own family members were quoted as saying so.  Now, Ms. Franklin herself is denying that she ever had the disease.
Though the Queen of Soul is still keeping mum about what she had exactly, we now know what she didn't have.  She told Access Hollywood,

"I don’t know where 'pancreatic cancer' came from.  I was sitting there reading the newspaper and it was saying someone in my family said that. No one in my family ever said that to anybody."

Aretha did reveal that she initially sought treatment for something that caused a pain in her side so great that "it almost brought me to my knees."
She then had a "successful procedure." And now she feels fine.

"[My doctor] said, 'The surgery that you just had is going to add 15 to 20 more years to your life," she said, adding that she's slimmed "down to a rockin' [size] 16-18. It’s getting better every day. I plan on keeping this weight that I have now -- I’m so happy with it."

So was this "surgery" gastric bypass?  Either way, we are pleased to hear that she is doing well.  She even copped a letter from President Barack Obama.  She said, "I got a wonderful and beautiful letter from the President.  And nobody does it like him!"