Chiaki Nozu/WireImageMegadeth‘s Dave Mustaine is currently battling cancer, and he opens up to Rolling Stone about his prognosis and how much the metal community’s support has meant to him.
“A lot came from people that I knew but I didn’t know cared,” says Mustaine. “I got a text message back from my old brother, James Hetfield, and I was so, so happy to hear from him. Contrary to what anybody says and contrary to any of the act that we put on, I love James and I know that James loves me and cares about me.”
Mustaine also received messages from Ozzy Osbourne and KISS’ Paul Stanley. He adds, “Even the people who have a hard time with my behavior and my big mouth, I’m just so grateful for them showing care for me…at the end of the day, all we’ve got is each other here in this crazy metal community.”
Mustaine’s specific cancer is a squamous cell carcinoma on the base of his tongue, which spread to his mouth and lymph nodes. It was discovered during a dental appointment, and as soon as he was diagnosed, he says, “We commenced kicking this thing’s a**.”
“I thought about every single trick that I had learned about healing my body…and I did everything that the doctor said to a T,” he adds. “And hopefully this is the end of it and I never hear of it again. But I feel great.”
In fact, Mustaine says the doctors are “freaking out over how well I’ve healed.” While he hasn’t “officially” been cleared to tour, he’ll be joining Megadeth for their upcoming European tour with Five Finger Death Punch.
“It’s a tricky disease, but they’ve got doctors all over the place that are figuring this s**t out,” says Mustaine.
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