( CNN ) -- Celine Dion is putting her music career on hold indefinitely because of her husband 's cancer and her own illness , the singer announced Wednesday . Dion 's Las Vegas residency shows and plans to tour Asia in the fall have been taken off her schedule , according to a statement posted on her website and social media accounts . Dion , 46 , must `` focus 100 % of her attention on her husband Rene , their family , and associated health issues , '' the statement said . Rene Angelil , 72 , underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his throat last December . He stepped aside as his wife 's manager in June because of the illness . `` It 's been a very difficult and stressful time for the couple as they deal with the day-to-day challenges of fighting this disease while trying to juggle a very active show business schedule , and raise their three young children , '' the statement said . Dion is suffering from `` an illness that has caused inflammation in her throat muscles , and has not been able to perform any of her scheduled shows in Las Vegas since her last show on July 29th , '' the statement said . Dion 's shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace have been one of the hottest tickets in Las Vegas since she returned to the Strip three years ago . Her residency , which has included about 70 shows a year , is on hold `` until further notice , '' the statement said . `` I want to devote every ounce of my strength and energy to my husband 's healing , and to do so , it 's important for me to dedicate this time to him and to our children , '' Dion said . `` I also want to apologize to all my fans everywhere , for inconveniencing them , and I thank them so much for their love and support . '' Dion and Angelil began a romantic relationship when she was 19 and he was 45 . The couple , along with their three sons , live in Las Vegas , where Dion has been performing for three years . The singer briefly retired from performing in 1999 when her husband was battling throat cancer . CNN 's Carolyn Sung contributed to this report .
Celine Dion 's Las Vegas residency shows and European tour are off her schedule . She will ` ` focus 100 % of her attention '' on her husband , their family and her own illness . Her husband has a cancerous throat diagnosed in December . Dion suffers ` ` an illness that has caused inflammation in her throat ' , '' a statement says .