Poison drummer Rikki Rockett, 64, disclosed details of his battle with throat cancer and leukemia, marking a decade of remission.
In early 2015, persistent sore throat symptoms led Rockett to an ENT specialist, where a scope revealed stage 3 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. He immediately began a three‑month regimen of daily radiation and weekly chemotherapy.
The aggressive treatment caused severe side effects: Rockett lost roughly 30 percent of his body weight, endured constant throat pain, could not eat solid food, and suffered radiation burns that required shaving his beard and cutting hair around the affected area.
Despite completing the initial therapy, scans showed the cancer had advanced to stage 4, and surgeons proposed a partial glossectomy to remove his tongue. Rockett declined the operation, describing his decision as “bullheaded.”
Instead, he entered a clinical trial testing a novel immunotherapy approach. Within weeks, imaging indicated a 90 percent reduction in tumor size, prompting Rockett to describe the experience as “spitting on the side of the road” in disbelief.
During the same period, doctors identified leukemia, which he also treated successfully, ultimately overcoming both malignancies.
Reflecting on his recovery, Rockett emphasizes personal wellness, recommending regular exercise, proper hygiene, and professional mental‑health support as essential components of coping with serious illness.
He plans to document his journey in a forthcoming memoir, aiming to provide guidance and encouragement to others confronting cancer.
