Eddie Van Halen Reportedly Suffering From Throat Cancer, Getting Treatment

Eddie Van Halen Reportedly Suffering From Throat Cancer, Getting Treatment
Eddie Van Halen attends the George Lopez Foundation 10th Anniversary Celebration Party at Baltaire in Los Angeles, California, on April 30, 2017. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for George Lopez Foundation)
Jack Phillips
10/13/2019
Updated:
2/11/2022

Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen has been flying from the United States to Germany to receive throat cancer treatment, according to TMZ.

The report said he was diagnosed with cancer about 20 years ago, adding that for the past five years, he has flown to Germany to receive treatment.

“Over the years there were times some of the cancer cells migrated down to his throat, and doctors would scrape them out,” TMZ said, citing a source.

It’s not clear how his health is now. “As for his current condition ... there are lots of rumors, but people who know him say he’s seems to be doing okay -- at least on the surface,” the outlet claimed.

A source told TMZ that Van Halen believes that his cancer originated from a metal guitar pick that he’s used for decades. He apparently would cradle the pick in his mouth.

Janie Liszewski and guitarist Eddie Van Halen attend the John Varvatos 10th Annual Stuart House Benefit presented by Chrysler, Kids Tent by Hasbro Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on March 10, 2013. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for John Varvatos)
Janie Liszewski and guitarist Eddie Van Halen attend the John Varvatos 10th Annual Stuart House Benefit presented by Chrysler, Kids Tent by Hasbro Studios, in Los Angeles, California, on March 10, 2013. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for John Varvatos)
He told Billboard in 2015: “I used metal picks – they’re brass and copper – which I always held in my mouth, in the exact place where I got the tongue cancer.”

“Plus, I basically live in a recording studio that’s filled with electromagnetic energy. So that’s one theory. I mean, I was smoking and doing a lot of drugs and a lot of everything. But at the same time, my lungs are totally clear. This is just my own theory, but the doctors say it’s possible,” he explained.

According to NME, he underwent emergency surgery for diverticulitis, which involves inflammation and infection of the colon.
A statement in 2015 said, “Eddie Van Halen underwent an emergency surgery for a severe bout of Diverticulitis. No further surgeries are needed and a full recovery is expected within 4-6 months. Van Halen’s scheduled November 2012 tour of Japan is currently being rescheduled and the band looks forward to seeing and playing for their fans in 2013.”

Notable Celebrity Deaths in 2019

Ric Ocasek
Musician Ric Ocasek and model Paulina Porizkova attend the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Children's Defense Fund's Beat the Odds Program at Guastavino's in New York City on Dec. 6, 2010. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Musician Ric Ocasek and model Paulina Porizkova attend the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Children's Defense Fund's Beat the Odds Program at Guastavino's in New York City on Dec. 6, 2010. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Eddie Money
Musician Eddie Money performs on stage during the iHeart80s Party 2017 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Jan. 28, 2017. (Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
Musician Eddie Money performs on stage during the iHeart80s Party 2017 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Jan. 28, 2017. (Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
Peter Fonda
Peter Fonda in a 2009 photo. (Glenn Francis of www.PacificProDigital.com via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license)
Peter Fonda in a 2009 photo. (Glenn Francis of www.PacificProDigital.com via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license)
Beth Chapman
Duane 'Dog the Bounty Hunter" Chapman (L) and Beth Chapman attend the Vettys Presidential Inaugural Ball at Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington on Jan. 20, 2017. (Teresa Kroeger/Getty Images)
Duane 'Dog the Bounty Hunter" Chapman (L) and Beth Chapman attend the Vettys Presidential Inaugural Ball at Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington on Jan. 20, 2017. (Teresa Kroeger/Getty Images)
Doris Day
Actress and animal rights activist Doris Day poses for photos after receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award she was presented with at the annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Jan. 28, 1989. (AP Photo)
Actress and animal rights activist Doris Day poses for photos after receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award she was presented with at the annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Jan. 28, 1989. (AP Photo)
John Singleton
John Singleton attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, Calif., on March 4, 2018. He died in late April after a stroke. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
John Singleton attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, Calif., on March 4, 2018. He died in late April after a stroke. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Nipsey Hussle
Nipsey Hussle and Lauren London in Los Angeles, on Feb. 7, 2019. The rapper was shot dead in late March. (Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images)
Nipsey Hussle and Lauren London in Los Angeles, on Feb. 7, 2019. The rapper was shot dead in late March. (Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images)
Luke Perry
Undated file photo of Luke Perry. (Newsmakers)
Undated file photo of Luke Perry. (Newsmakers)
Peter Tork
Peter Tork of the Monkees died at 77 in Feb. 2019. (Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)
Peter Tork of the Monkees died at 77 in Feb. 2019. (Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)
Albert Finney
British actor Albert Finney died in Feb. 2019 at the age of 82. (Lucy Nicholson/AFP/Getty Images)
British actor Albert Finney died in Feb. 2019 at the age of 82. (Lucy Nicholson/AFP/Getty Images)
Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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