Rikki Rockett’s Battle with Cancer

Poison’s drummer, Rikki Rockett, faced a daunting possibility during his struggle with cancer: losing his tongue. Standard treatments like chemotherapy and radiation were unsuccessful, prompting Rockett to record messages for his children to preserve the sound of his voice.

Rockett, born Richard Allan Ream, shared with Fox News Digital his intentions behind the recordings. He wanted his children to know his voice and his life advice as they grew up.

Rising Challenges During Treatment

Rockett witnessed his weight plummet to 161 pounds. He feared that if his tongue was removed, he might not survive for long.

“I would’ve likely needed a feeding tube,” he explained. “I don’t think I would have lived much longer. Sometimes people survive, but with my condition, survival seemed unlikely.”

Rockett was eventually declared cancer-free for the past decade, an achievement chronicled in his memoir, “Ghost Notes: My Life in Poison.” The memoir details his journey to fame in the ’80s and the grueling health challenges he faced.

The Diagnosis and Its Aftermath

In 2015, Rockett and his family encountered sore throats, initially treated with antibiotics. However, his symptoms persisted. Upon further examination, his doctor found something concerning.

Rockett was diagnosed with HPV-related throat cancer, which affected the base of his tongue. He experienced a persistent sore throat and swollen lymph node for over a month, leading to radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

The Experimental Approach

Despite extensive treatment, Rockett’s condition did not improve. He was introduced to an experimental drug combination at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. This innovative approach, involving pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and epacadostat, successfully eliminated the cancer by July 2016.

While the treatment was challenging and caused his tongue to swell, a scan soon provided hope. Rockett revealed that his first PET scan showed 90 percent of the cancer was gone, and the subsequent scan confirmed its complete eradication.

Rockett’s Health Challenges Continue

Rockett faced new health concerns as he developed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), linked to the Philadelphia chromosome.

“My hematologist reassured me that CML is treatable and sometimes curable,” Rockett wrote. His ongoing medication has kept the condition in remission, with zero detection for several years.

Reflecting on Survival

Rockett acknowledges his medical team for saving his life. Despite lasting effects, he focuses on witnessing his children grow up.

“My voice sometimes gets rough, and dryness occurs due to radiation,” he noted. “But I’m cancer-free, and have been for 10 years.”

Rockett continues to perform with his band, Rockett Mafia. He hopes his memoir inspires readers to persevere.

“I’m still active,” he said. “I want my kids to see me perform, and they’ve attended Poison concerts. That wish came true.”

For Rockett, overcoming cancer means cherishing the time he feared losing.

“Fighting for my kids was a significant part of my struggle,” he reflected.