Madonna 's brother's cause of death has been confirmed as being due to multiple health issues, including throat cancer, it has been reported.
Anthony Ciccone, 66, died in February from a combination of respiratory failure and throat cancer, specifically oropharyngeal cancer, which can be caused by smoking.
The singer's brother was receiving treatment at a Michigan nursing facility when he passed away, with Madonna paying for the bill.
His feeding and breathing tubes were removed two days before he died even though he knew doing so would have dire consequences.
TMZ reported that Anthony's death certificate shows that he has since been cremated.
Madonna shared an emotional tribute to her brother on social media.
Taking to Instagram, the Material Girl singer shared a black-and-white photo of the pair surrounded by friends and thanked her brother for introducing her to so many life-changing people.
She wrote: "Thank you for blowing my mind as a young girl and introducing me to Charlie Parker, Miles David, Buddhism, Taoism, Charles Bukowski, Richard Brautigan, Jack Kerouac, expansive thinking, outside the box."
"You planted many important seeds," she added alongside a red heart emoji.
Musician Joe Henry, who is married to Madonna's sister Melanie Ciccone, announced the news of Anthony's death.
Sharing a black-and-white picture of his brother-in-law on Instagram, Joe wrote: "My brother-in-law, Anthony Gerard Ciccone, exited this earthly plane last evening.
"I’ve known him since I was 15, in the spring of our lives in Michigan so many years now gone.
"As brother Dave Henry (who took this photograph) notes here, Anthony was a complex character; and god knows: we tangled in moments, as true brothers can.
"But I loved him, and understood him better than I was sometimes willing to let on. But trouble fades; and family remains— with hands reached across the table."
He concluded: "Farewell, then, brother Anthony. I want to think the god your blessed mother (and mine) believed in has her there, waiting to receive you. At least for today, no one shall dissuade me from this vision."
The Mirror have contacted Madonna's reps for comment.
