By Rennie Dyball

Wednesday December 15, 2010 06:50 PM EST

[img:$uid]http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2010/news/101227/aretha-franklin-240.jpg[/img:$uid]

The Queen of Soul is happy to be home.

Aretha Franklin, who underwent "highly successful" surgery for an undisclosed ailment on Dec. 2 – and is reported to have pancreatic cancer – was discharged from a Detroit hospital earlier this week, according to a statement released Wednesday

"I've been at home for almost three days now," says Franklin, 68, in the statement. "My family and friends who brought me home are taking great care of me. I also have a private nurse who visits on a daily basis."

The singer is also optimistic about being out and about soon.

"I'm hoping to be strong enough to go out and see the upcoming Sam Cooke play at the Music Hall in downtown Detroit before Jan. 2, as well as a performance of Dreamgirls at the FOX before it closes," she says.

"The Queen of Soul is in great spirits and very happy to be home where she will be resting in anticipation of spending the upcoming holiday season with her family," her rep adds in the statement.

Despite the grim prognosis for pancreatic cancer patients, Franklin's supporters remain optimistic.

The singer "has a long life in front of her and will be back in concert, on stage, late spring or early summer," her cousin Brenda Corbett told the Detroit Free Press.

Franklin's rep has not commented on the nature of the singer's ailment.

Pancreatic cancer is super deadly... May god be with her...

I read that earlier but still happy to read about it.

Yesssss.

lezama said:

Pancreatic cancer is super deadly... May god be with her...

Yeah, we will be lucky to have her around for six months to two years.

sosgemini said:

lezama said:

Pancreatic cancer is super deadly... May god be with her...

Yeah, we will be lucky to have her around for six months to two years.

Lets just deal with the now

She's still here

as mentioned lets focus on the here & now, anyone who has had to deal with cancer knows this is what will get you through each day.

Good that she is doing well. I didn't know there is a play about Sam Cooke.