Harvey Weinstein was diagnosed with cancer, according to sources

() – Harvey Weinstein has been diagnosed with bone cancer, a source close to the imprisoned producer told .

Weinstein’s specific diagnosis is chronic myeloid leukemia, a form of bone marrow cancer, the source says, adding that he is receiving treatment at Rikers Island in New York.

Juda Engelmayer, Weinstein’s longtime spokesperson, declined to comment on Weinstein’s diagnosis. His lawyer, Arthur Aidala, did not immediately respond to ‘s request for comment.

Weinstein’s corrections consultant and authorized health care legal representative in New York State, Craig Rothfeld, debunked speculation about Weinstein’s diagnosis.

“It is worrying and unacceptable that such private and confidential health issues have become a topic of public debate. “Out of respect for Mr. Weinstein’s privacy, we will not be offering further comment,” Rothfeld told in a statement.

The diagnosis was first reported by NBC News.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a rare type of cancer that forms in the bone marrow before spreading to the blood. It is a slow-growing type of leukemia that can become acute if not treated quickly with targeted therapy, according to the American Cancer Society.

Because CML is not as common as other blood diseases, it has taken scientists years to develop, test and streamline cancer treatments, the society says.

Between 15% and 30% of people with CML develop acute myeloid leukemia. CML also tends to affect more men than women, the study states.

Last month, Weinstein underwent emergency heart surgery. His spokesperson told at the time that he was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in New York for the procedure and was released shortly after.

“As we have stated extensively before, Mr. Weinstein suffers from a plethora of significant health issues that require ongoing treatment,” Weinstein’s representatives said in September.

A week after being released following heart surgery, Weinstein attended a court hearing where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree criminal sexual act after a grand jury indicted him on a new charge earlier this month.

Earlier this year, an appeals court overturned Weinstein’s 2020 conviction, which was a pivotal turning point in the #MeToo movement. Weinstein is tentatively scheduled to be retried in New York on Nov. 12, although prosecutors have asked to combine Weinstein’s cases into a single trial, a move his defense has strongly opposed.

On Monday, Weinstein’s spokesman, Engelmayer, declined to comment on whether his upcoming trial could be affected by his cancer diagnosis.