Brian May has undergone several tests for cancer over the festive period.

The 66-year-old guitarist - who had a knee replacement earlier this year - has taken to his website to reveal he has been suffering from agonising pain in his back over the past few weeks and it turned so bad he was urged to go for MRI scans to make sure he didn't have cancer.

He wrote: ''Around Christmas I've been having a succession of blood tests, ultrasounds, and various kinds of scans, to see if they could rule out various kinds of cancer.

''Now, on hearing the ''C'' word something happens inside you ... of course. I've seen so many of my dear friends fighting it ... and my Dad lost his battle at age 66, exactly the age I am now. So over the last few days I've been in various states of unrest. But the great thing has been that the team my GP assembled to check out the possibilities has moved Heaven and Earth to gather all the information I need quickly over the Christmas period ... not an easy time. (sic)''

The Queen legend has his final test today (30.12.13) but admitted he is ''cautiously optimistic'' the doctors won't find anything cancerous.

He added: ''The REALLY great thing is that so far the tests have eliminated a lot of nasty things.

''I have one more scan on Monday, but I'm beginning to feel cautiously optimistic. Of course we still don't know what those things on the MRI's are. But I'm hoping they are things that have been there for a long time and are not causing trouble. (sic)''

Since revealing the news, Brian - who is married to former 'EastEnders' actress Anita Dobson - has been inundated with messages of goodwill, and he took to his website to thank his fans for their support.

He wrote: ''I feel like I have a whole new understanding of the way people - all people - deal with frightening news, and move on into the next place. I know I won't be able to answer every message ... but I thank you all from the bottom of my heart, and I'm making a start on some replies now.''