Poison drummer Rikki Rockett has revealed he refused to have his tongue amputated after being diagnosed with throat cancer. The 64-year-old underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy in 2015, only to later be diagnosed with leukaemia. Celebrating 10 years cancer-free, Rockett reflected on his 'bullheaded' response to the proposed surgery.
Diagnosis and Initial Treatment
In 2015, Rockett visited his ENT specialist after a second round of antibiotics failed to cure a sore throat. He was scoped that day and soon diagnosed with Stage 3 head and neck cancer (throat cancer), specifically squamous cell carcinoma. He began a three-month intensive treatment plan involving radiation five days a week and weekly chemotherapy.
Discussing the side effects, Rockett said he lost 30% of his body weight, experienced constant throat pain, swelling, and fatigue. He could not eat solid food and suffered radiation burns. He kept his hair except for a radiation burn around the back, forcing him to cut it off, and his beard had a radiation line, so he shaved it.
Treatment Failure and Refusal of Surgery
After the initial treatment, Rockett was told it had not worked; his cancer had progressed from stage three to stage four during those three months. He was offered surgery to remove his tongue. 'Me being the bullheaded thing that I am, I refused,' he recalled.
Instead, Rockett joined a clinical trial for a new approach: immunotherapy. Within weeks, his tumours had shrunk by 90%. He even believes he 'spat one out' on the side of the road. 'I pulled my car over to spit. Spitting had become routine. Something not much different than an effect in Evil Dead landed on the ground,' he explained.
Leukaemia Diagnosis and Recovery
While still being treated for throat cancer, Rockett was also diagnosed with leukaemia. He went on to beat both illnesses. He noted that the experimental drug he received has since become routine treatment. 'I was one of the few that gifted that opportunity. I am not taking a bow, I am gracious for the chance ... This was bigger than anything I had ever done with Poison. I was part of something miraculous!' he said.
Rockett advised others facing cancer: 'If you ever get this or anything like this, take care of yourself, keep working out, get up and take a shower and look your best. Go to a shrink. Treat yourself and make yourself first and then you can come back and help others.'
Future Plans
Rockett plans to share more details of his health journey in a book, which he described as 'tough to write,' in hopes of helping others facing cancer.
