In great news for fans everywhere, guitar master and cancer survivor Eddie Van Halen celebrated his 65th birthday on Sunday and marked it with a photo taken by his loving wife, Janie Van Halen.
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The rocker, a founder in 1972 of legendary rock band Van Halen — which hasn’t toured since 2015 — shared his own “#groovy” Instagram post, his first selfie since July 4th. “Is today my birthday?” the throat cancer survivor wrote, adding “Groovy Man!” and a peace-sign emoji. His son, Wolfgang, who plays bass for the band, followed with HAPPY BIRTHDAY POP!
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???? Is Today My Birthday? Groovy Man! ✌ #aquarius #filter #hippie #birthday
And Rolling Stone weighed in as well, marking the occasion by putting together “20 of the guitar god’s greatest solos,” for fans to enjoy.
The Van Halens’ public photos are a positive sign for Eddie, who was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 2000. He underwent treatment, subsequently had part of his tongue removed, and was declared cancer free in 2002. In November, the iconic ’80s rocker was hospitalized as a result of "intestinal issues and abdominal pain,” according to TMZ. Sources told TMZ they were a side effect of the drugs that Van Halen had been taking as part of his treatment.
David Lee Roth Update
A recent comment by Van Halen bandmate David Lee Roth has added to a perception that Eddie is not in great health: "Ed (Van Halen)'s not doing well, and singing and dancing is a perishable skill,” he said. But in birthday posts Van Halen looks relaxed and happy.
Eddie Van Halen's Cancer Journey
For the last several years, Van Halen reportedly has been traveling to Germany to undergo treatment for throat cancer. While he has not shared specifics about the type of treatment he's been receiving, he has spoken openly about what he believes to be the cause of his disease.
RELATED: As Eddie Van Halen Faces His Own Cancer Journey, Wife Janie Reveals Cancer Scare of Her Own
In an interview with Billboard, he posited that the metal guitar picks he's been holding in his mouth for decades during performances. This is unlikely, however, given as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) do not classify copper or the metals in brass (an alloy comprised of copper and zinc) as carcinogenic (cancer-causing) to humans.
The cancer diagnosis is more likely related to Van Halen's lifelong smoking habit, as he told Billboard during the same interview that he began smoking cigarettes when he was 12 years old. "I was an alcoholic, and I needed alcohol to function… I started drinking and smoking when I was 12. I got drunk before I'd show up to high school," Van Halen said, adding that the reason he doesn't credit his cancer to smoking is that, despite his throat cancer, his "lungs are totally clear."
It is possible, however, to develop throat or tongue cancer from smoking without the disease appearing in the lungs.
According to the American Cancer Society, "Tobacco and alcohol use are two of the strongest risk factors for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers." (Oropharyngeal cancers meaning cancers of the mouth, tongue, or throat.) The more often that cigarette smoke comes into contact with the tongue and throat, the more damage occurs to the DNA in these cells. Each time that a cell repairs its DNA, there's a risk of developing a cancerous mutation.
Because this cycle of cell damage and repair happens in the mouth and throat as well as the lungs, Eddie Van Halen's throat cancer could indeed be related to his smoking habit even though he doesn't have lung cancer.
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