Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer of musicals 'Evita', 'The Phantom of the Opera' and 'Cats', has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his spokesman said Sunday.

"Andrew Lloyd Webber has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The condition is in its very early stages," said a statement from public relations firm Brown Lloyd James.

"Andrew is now undergoing treatment and expects to be fully back at work before the end of the year."

The 61-year-old composer is behind a string of stage hits and earlier this month launched the long-awaited sequel to 'Phantom' in London. The new show, 'Love Never Dies', opened 23 years after 'Phantom' first hit the stage.