In a brand new interview with Scott Itter of Dr. Music, former WHITESNAKE and DIO and present THE DEAD DAISIES guitarist Doug Aldrich provided an replace on his well being, practically seven months after he underwent a “very profitable” surgical procedure following a throat most cancers prognosis. Concerning how he’s feeling for the time being, Doug stated (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): ”I really feel nice. I am doing actually good. It is taking me time. I am nonetheless getting there, as a result of in sure conditions, once they’re working in your neck, you possibly can’t eat excellent. After which, getting radiation, you are not hungry, actually. They’re frying your neck daily and ultimately you lose your style and you’ll’t swallow so good. And so that you shed extra pounds. So I am engaged on bulking again up a little bit bit. However, happily, my neck healed. The scar is sweet. Generally I bought a number of little points, however I really feel actually good and I am grateful.
“The silver lining is simply — I used to be residing fairly arduous for a very long time and I feel that now I am realizing I have to reside a little bit extra more healthy,” he defined. “In order that’s an excellent factor,
“I feel earlier than, after I was in my forties, it was simple [ to stay in shape]. ‘Trigger for people who find themselves on the market which might be of their forties, that is like being in your twenties now. That is the best way folks come off. However ultimately your physique begins to decelerate. You’ve got gotta work a little bit more durable at it. And it was more durable, previously couple of years, to essentially keep in form. I attempted to, however I wasn’t residing as… I used to be undoubtedly consuming loads and consuming not good things. Clearly, since most cancers, I have been one hundred percent making an attempt to be higher — not drink and eat cleaner and stuff like that. However the issue is that you simply shed extra pounds with most cancers more often than not, and so you have gotta discover a approach to construct that again. So it simply takes time.
“However anyway, I really feel nice, man. I am grateful,” he added. “And I might simply stress to anyone, particularly male listeners of yours of their fifties or sixties, going to the dentist is an effective factor to do, general wellness of your mouth and throat, as a result of the dentist checks that each time earlier than they do something. And I wasn’t going to the dentist. I might take my youngsters there, however I had no downside with my enamel. I used to be, like, ‘Why spend the cash?’ However then this factor occurred and I noticed, effectively, had I gone to the dentist, they in all probability would’ve saved me a bunch of cash in medical payments. Nicely, they might’ve caught it. And it might’ve been a matter of — once they catch stuff early, when it is most cancers, they’ll simply both do some sort of minimal remedy or minimal surgical procedure. However because it progresses, if you happen to wait six months or a 12 months or longer, and then you definitely discover it, then it progresses and it goes deeper into your physique and it might go to your liver, it might go to your coronary heart, no matter, your mind. So I like to recommend, in my scenario for that type of most cancers, neck and throat, getting checked. It is price it as a result of even at 60-plus, there’s a number of time left to reside, so you do not wanna be getting hammered by some well being downside.”
Two months in the past, Doug informed Ernest Skinner of Canada’s Border Metropolis Rock Discuss how he came upon in regards to the seriousness of his prognosis: “As soon as I met with the oncologist, he stated, ‘Hey, that is very treatable. You are gonna be effective. It is gonna be a ache within the ass, but it surely’s very treatable.’ However previous to that — it was about two or three weeks [earlier] after I bought the information that it was cancerous, it was undoubtedly most cancers — I did not know what sort of most cancers [it was] and the way superior it was. That is the scary half, as a result of, man, I used to be, like… It was only a nerve-racking scenario as a result of I’ve bought youngsters. I’ve lived an incredible life, I am tremendous blessed and fortunate, and if it is my time, I will go, however I do not wanna depart but as a result of I’ve gotta assist my youngsters get via life a little bit bit.”
Doug continued: “It was undoubtedly a setback mentally. And I simply needed to type of go, ‘Look, I am gonna depart it in God’s fingers and simply no matter it’s, it’s, and I will simply take care of it my finest I can.’ After which the physician stated it was very treatable and it might be a ache within the ass. It will be a surgical procedure and in addition radiation. And I believed, ‘Okay, the surgical procedure is the worst a part of it,’ however truly radiation is [the worst]… Happily, I did not need to have chemo, in order that was good. They took out my tonsil the place it was, after which they took out a bunch of lymph nodes proper right here. And the scar is fairly good, truly.”
Elaborating on the detrimental results of his remedy, Aldrich stated: “One of many largest issues was I misplaced all my style, so you might odor stuff, however you could not style it… On one facet, for some purpose, it was actually metallic… I might gargle all day with salt water and baking soda, and that helped a bit with a number of points. However anyway, the underside line is I bought my blood check the opposite day and it is zero, whereas previous to my surgical procedure, it was 277, no matter that’s. Now it is zero. In order that’s good. I’ve nonetheless gotta get scanned on my full physique to ensure there is not any organs that bought something in ’em, however I feel I am fairly good. I am hoping so.”
He added: “Going via that remedy, I misplaced a little bit of weight, and so I am making an attempt to construct again a little bit bit with out gaining within the different spots. I like that I misplaced some weight.”
Earlier in February, Doug informed Ralph Rasmussen of Radio Bypass that “every little thing” was “good” following his remedy. “I bought finished with all of the radiation therapies in December, after which it is simply been a fast six weeks or no matter,” he stated. “It is simply flown by. However I have been feeling good. All the pieces’s type of getting again to regular. I am beginning to go to the fitness center a little bit bit and work on my muscle tissues and stuff and getting going once more like that. So I am good. I have been enjoying loads. There’s a number of little points that pop up — I get some swelling generally. After they do this surgical procedure on you, there’s some restructuring of your nasal cavity and stuff like that in your throat. So there’s a little bit bit to get used to, however I can not complain. I am doing actually good. And after what I went via, I am undoubtedly feeling blessed.”
Doug went on to say that he felt some fatigue as a facet impact of his radiation remedy. However “it went away fairly fast,” he defined. “Actually, you’ll do radiation daily for quarter-hour after which they might provide you with Saturday and Sunday off, and, man, I used to be simply so joyful when it was Friday and I might stay up for Saturday simply not having to go there. After which by Sunday, I might begin to really feel a little bit higher. I imply, I used to be undoubtedly taking naps daily. However after a few weeks of being finished with it, I really feel my vitality is again. I have been taking it simple within the fitness center ‘trigger I do not wanna pressure something. I’ve finished that previously the place I used to be preparing for a tour and I began to do some heavy weights and I might pull one thing, and it is like I bought a difficulty for six months for it to return again. So I am taking it fairly simple. However I am feeling good, and, yeah, general, I can not complain in any respect.”
Requested if he’s now “clear” from most cancers, Doug stated: “I do not know if I am clear. I suppose it takes 5 or seven years earlier than you are truly clear, however the docs — the surgical procedure was actually good. All the pieces was optimistic, they usually fried me actually good for six weeks, so I am fairly certain every little thing else that was left over is gone. However I bought some blood work finished final week. We’ll see what that claims. After which I’ve bought to get a PET scan, and that is a full physique scan once more to find out if every little thing’s good.”
Requested if there was any injury to his vocal cords, Doug stated: “No. I feel I sound fairly much like what I did. It was on my tonsil. In order that they eliminated my tonsil on one facet after which the lymph nodes on the within of my neck — they took 30 lymph nodes. However, yeah, my voice sounds fairly comparable and I can sing — not that I do a number of singing with THE DEAD DAISIES, however I can do it.”
Aldrich beforehand mentioned his most cancers battle throughout an look on the December 16, 2024 episode of SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”. Concerning how he bought recognized with throat most cancers, Doug stated: “I by no means thought I might get most cancers. It simply by no means occurred to me. I’ve all the time been tremendous wholesome and — knock on wooden — I by no means had a serious something. And someday, I feel it was in Could, I used to be about to go on tour with THE DAISIES and I used to be shaving and I noticed a little bit lump on my neck. And I used to be, like, ‘Nicely, that appears whenever you’re sick, you have bought swollen glands or one thing.’ It was on one facet. And I believed, ‘That does not damage in any respect. My throat would not [hurt]. Nothing hurts.’ And I went on tour, and I stated, ‘Hey, one thing like that might be a viral factor. Let it roll for a pair weeks, and if it would not change, then make an appointment to see your physician.’ And so I went and did the dates — it was, like, three weeks of dates or one thing within the U.S., I imagine. And I bought residence and bought an appointment. It took a little bit time. As you understand, to get a health care provider’s appointment it takes a minute. So it was one other few weeks earlier than I bought in. And instantly they checked out it to ensure that me to get a CT scan, [and] after studying that they have been involved there was one thing in there. It wasn’t a serious concern. Then I did a little bit MRI of the neck, and that is once they might measure the bump, they usually realized that this was actually regarding. [And they told me] I ought to go see an ear, nostril and throat physician. And my physician was, like, ‘Hey, it might be most cancers. It might be cancerous, but it surely might be benign. It might be no matter. Don’t fret about it but.’ However already my thoughts was beginning to get a little bit bit nervous. So I am going to the ear, nostril and throat physician, and he goes, ‘I see it. It is in your tonsil. And if you happen to do not thoughts, I am gonna seize a chunk of it with the tweezers and I will ship it in for a biopsy,’ which, truly, only for these folks that care about these things, you might go get a biopsy and it might price you hundreds of {dollars} or insurance coverage or no matter. The way in which this man did it was old-fashioned — he simply ripped a bit off my tonsil and despatched it in and it saved me a ton of cash to do this. So it got here again optimistic for HPV 16 throat most cancers. Positively not good. So, proper then you definitely begin freaking out, like, ‘Oh, man. Okay, what stage is it?’, no matter. And it’s totally troublesome to get definitive solutions on stuff, ‘trigger no one actually is aware of till you do all these checks and all these things. So there’s in all probability three or 4 weeks earlier than you discover out what stage it’s or no matter.”
Doug continued: “In order that’s the way it began. After which I went and began going via the method. By that point, I used to be doing a number of checks and stuff. I’ve insurance coverage for me and my household, and I maxed out my deductible. In order that was good. However insurance coverage is an entire one other factor. Medical doctors’ payments — you get payments; daily there’s payments from this and that, and you do not know what to pay and what to not pay. It’s extremely complicated. However anyway, that is the way it began. That is the way it was recognized. And I instantly bought in with… My spouse bought me into a health care provider at UCLA Medical Middle, which is shut in L.A. After which my sister’s boyfriend is a plastic surgeon, and he bought me in with a health care provider for a second opinion from Cedar Sinai in L.A. And that is the man I went with, a man referred to as Dr. Ho.”
Requested by host Eddie Trunk to make clear that he “had no signs” past this little bump and that he wasn’t “in ache or something”, Doug stated: “Nothing. Generally folks shed extra pounds. I had no signs — nothing. It was only a bump, and it was not tremendous noticeable, however then, in fact, when you see it, you possibly can’t unsee it. And one other factor that is necessary for folks [to know] is that a very powerful factor you are able to do to guard your self is get checked. Nicely, this specific most cancers, it normally will get found by a dentist. However I haven’t got many issues with my enamel, and a dentist is pricey. So I might be, like, ‘Look, my youngsters, I wanna ensure that they’re checked, and [they have] braces and no matter they should do. That is what I am gonna spend my cash on.’ I used to be, like, ‘I needn’t go to the dentist. I simply brush my enamel and floss. That is it.’ However had I gone to the dentist, he would have seen this earlier than it… It is referred to as metastasizing when it switches from the precise tumor to a lymph node, and that is what my neck bump was; it was a lymph node that had gotten swollen. So a dentist would have seen that factor on my tonsil loads sooner and it might have been a lot simpler to take care of, or my remedy would have been a lot simpler to take care of. Nevertheless it bought found when it was already metastasized within the lymph node after which the query was, what stage is it? How massive is it? How far did it go?”
Doug added: “So the underside line is you have gotta get recognized of the place you are at, and you should go to an oncologist. And I might suggest [for you to] go to a giant hospital in your space and make an appointment, begin making appointments with whoever you possibly can. And that is what my spouse did. She reached out to UCLA as a result of we have used them earlier than for youths and stuff. And so she bought me that one. And the man, he had been there a very long time, had an incredible file, and UCLA is nice and every little thing, however he stated, ‘We do not actually do levels anymore. It is type of an previous factor that they did with most cancers. They name it stage 1 via 4, no matter.’ Mainly, he goes, ‘I do not know what yours is precisely. It might be 2, it might be 3, it might be 1 and a half, no matter. However you are gonna want surgical procedure.’
“When it is in your throat, you have bought all these items which might be linked in there. In order that they’re trying down your nostril, trying in your throat, X-rays and scans and all these things. And by the best way, round that point too, the physician ordered a PET scan, which is a full-on physique [scan] to see if the most cancers has unfold to love your lungs or your liver or kidneys or no matter, and that is scary. Whenever you begin pondering, like, ‘When is my appointment? Oh, it is in two weeks. It might be proper now rising anyplace.’ And you do not know, so you have gotta get this PET scan. However, happily, to date and at the moment, I used to be all clear in all places aside from that spot. So he stated, ‘You’ve got gotta function,’ and he goes, ‘The nice factor is I am an incredible surgeon. I can do the skin half in your lymph nodes, however I can not do the within, which is gonna be a robotic surgical procedure. I want someone else to do this.’ After which after I met with Dr. Ho at Cedar Sinai, he was youthful. He had in all probability had extra up-to-date type of coaching when it comes to robotics. And he goes, ‘I am gonna do each surgical procedures myself.’ And he was very assured.”
In line with Aldrich, one other difficulty had come up throughout that point which affected the best way he went about his surgical procedure. He defined to “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”: “There is a nerve in your neck that connects your shoulder that is concerned on this space. And once they do the surgical procedure, in the event that they clip that nerve, then you definitely’re have an actual arduous time lifting your arm, which would not have an effect on my guitar enjoying, however I would not be capable to elevate my arm up very effectively. And I am pondering not nearly enjoying guitar, however I am desirous about, like, capturing a basketball with my youngsters or one thing. So I requested him about it, and he goes, ‘We’ll do our greatest. I feel we are able to save that nerve.’ And he did. So very first thing [they did was the] surgical procedure, after which after surgical procedure, they resolve what sort of therapies, whether or not they bought all of it and also you needn’t do something, or if you need to have radiation, or chemo, or each. And I needed to get radiation.”
Requested if he’s now finished with all of the radiation, Doug stated: “They informed me that I wanted radiation simply to clear it up, as a result of it had gone to the lymph nodes on my neck and it regarded prefer it was fairly contained, however there is likely to be a little bit piece or some fragments that might come off, so they should zap them with radiation simply to ensure. And I began studying about what radiation was gonna be like, and my spouse did, and it isn’t enjoyable any manner you do it. It is mainly frying sure elements of your physique, and there is a number of unwanted side effects that occur from that, so I wasn’t trying ahead to it. And I believed perhaps as a result of the surgeon did an excellent job, and I’ve bought a number of mates which have gone via [similar] stuff … I hoped I might get a little bit little bit of a much less radiation than what I bought. I bought six weeks. However they stated, ‘Hey, you’re eligible for a medical trial the place you might get three weeks radiation, however you have gotta get three doses of chemo as effectively. And it really works out rather well.’ And I used to be enthusiastic about that, and I certified for it, however the issue with the chemo whenever you’re coping with head and neck is it makes your ears ring and you’ll lose listening to. And I already bought one ear that is ringing actually unhealthy with tinnitus or no matter you name it. So I wasn’t an excellent candidate for that. So I went for the six weeks of radiation, which is 5 days per week. It takes quarter-hour beneath the microwave factor or no matter, the laser, no matter, that proton factor, and also you do it 5 days per week. Then they should provide you with two days to relaxation for six weeks. So I simply wrapped up.”
Requested if he has been given the “all clear” now, Doug stated: “The largest difficulty from the radiation was I might get nauseated and main fatigue, after which little by little your neck on the skin begins to fry and my neck now’s like child pores and skin. It is all model new pores and skin. And so I used to be fortunate. I am feeling nice. I bought finished with it. I am beginning to consider attending to the fitness center. And I in all probability misplaced 10 kilos, which some folks lose 40 or 50 or 100… So I simply attempt to eat wholesome and eat protein, they usually simply stated, ‘Hold your energy up.’ And I have been actually fortunate, man, however there’s a number of unwanted side effects. There’s a number of stuff that is a ache within the ass. I nonetheless cannot open my mouth to take a pleasant massive chunk of a hamburger, after which my jaw will get actually drained, as a result of… So I’ve bought this fibrosis — it is like referred to as TMJ or no matter — so I can not actually eat; it is arduous to eat, it is arduous to chew. That is one factor. After which I’ve bought no style, as a result of that radiation mainly fries your style buds. In order that hopefully will come again. As a result of that is one of many issues that is loopy, man, is with out style… After I bought COVID a pair years in the past, I did not lose my style, so I by no means knew what it was like.”
“So to reply your earlier query [about whether I have been given the ‘all clear’], I am mainly finished with the remedy and the surgical procedure and all that stuff,” he continued. “Now I’ve gotta wait three months they usually’re gonna do a PET scan once more and see if there’s something left. Likelihood is they bought all of it. If not, then I will simply take care of it, no matter it’s. And also you begin getting freaked out about it, however there’s so many individuals that undergo varied levels and issues of most cancers they usually’re nonetheless round they usually’re nonetheless combating and kicking ass. They usually actually are warriors. The secret’s simply to attempt to catch it early, if you happen to can.”
In late September 2024, Doug‘s spouse Daniela “Danni” Aldrich stated that his surgical procedure, which she described as “5 lengthy hours of a number of steps”, “went extremely effectively”, including that “Doug pushed via just like the fighter he’s. Even the nurse referred to as him a superhero for his power and willpower proper after!” she wrote. “He’s the strongest individual I do know.”
Because of Doug‘s surgical procedure, he was not in a position to participate in THE DEAD DAISIES‘ latest European tour and was quickly changed by Reb Seaside (WHITESNAKE, WINGER).
Aldrich performed with DIO for a brief interval between 2002 and 2006. He was additionally a member of WHITESNAKE from 2002 to 2014 earlier than leaving to spend extra time along with his household. The guitarist performed on two WHITESNAKE studio albums, 2008’s “Good To Be Dangerous” and 2011’s “Forevermore”, and appeared on a number of reside releases, together with 2013’s “Made In Japan” and “Made In Britain/The World Data”.
Aldrich left WHITESNAKE 10 years in the past, saying in an announcement that he “had a number of recording and reside commitments,” so he “wanted a extra versatile schedule to conclude these earlier than going full drive as regular.” He added: “Sadly, my schedule was not workable.”
