EDDIE VAN HALEN Is Suffering From Throat Cancer

Eddie Van Halen

Legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen is reportedly suffering from throat cancer which he believes he contracted after years of sucking on his metal guitar pick.

TMZ reports that he was diagnosed with cancer nearly 20 years ago and has been travelling between the United States and Germany for treatment.

Back in 2000, shortly after he was diagnosed, doctors removed around 1/3 of his tongue.

Sources told TMZ that Eddie has flown to Germany for 5 years to get radiation treatment, and for the most part it’s worked to keep the disease in check.

Eddie‘s friend and TOTO guitarist Steve Lukather told The Eddie Trunk Podcast in September that ‘There’s been some health issues that they’re [VAN HALEN brothers] dealing with and stuff like that.”

He continued: “We’re older guys now, and to go on the road, and stuff like that, it requires a lot of extra effort in terms of as a human being.”