Eddie Van Halen's Family History
- Eddie Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang, revealed on Instagram that his father is Dutch-Indonesian. Van Halen’s father was born in Amsterdam and his mother was born Dutch East Indies a Dutch colony of what is now Indonesia
- Van Halen was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 2000 before being declared “cancer free” in 2002. He’s been undergoing treatment for throat cancer over the last few years
- It’s unclear whether Van Halen’s cancer diagnoses were caused by tobacco use or are linked to HPV, but experts tell SurvivorNet that HPV-linked throat cancers are easier to treat
On Instagram, Wolfgang, 29, shared a sweet throwback photo of him as a child (rocking a fabulous bowl cut) posing alongside his late grandmother Eugenia Van Halen who passed away in 2009. A fan commented on the photo, asking about his family heritage. It was well believed that Eddie Van Halen, who is currently battling throat cancer, was Dutch-American, but while answering the fan’s question, Wolfgang revealed that his father is actually Dutch-Indonesian.
Read MoreEddie Van Halen’s Dutch roots are well known, seeing as he was born in Amsterdam and his father, Jan van Halen, is also Dutch. The rockstar’s mother, Eugenie, was born in the Dutch East Indies a Dutch colony of what is now Indonesia. Eugenie and Jan met in the Dutch East Indies where they got married, and then settled down in Amsterdam where they had Eddie.
Eddie Van Halen’s Cancer Journey
The “Runnin’ With the Devil” singer has had a few brushes with cancer in the past with him first being diagnosed with tongue cancer in 2000. For treatment, he underwent surgery in order to remove the cancer on his tongue, causing him to lose a third of his tongue as well. He was declared “cancer-free” in 2002, but occasionally needed to remove cancer cells out of his throat as the cells had migrated there after being diagnosed with tongue cancer.
Related: As Eddie Van Halen Faces His Own Cancer Journey, Wife Janie Reveals Cancer Scare of Her Own
However, the rocker ended up being diagnosed with throat cancer, and while he’s kept his treatment process out of the public eye, TMZ reported in November 2019 that Van Halen has been traveling to Germany for five years to receive radiation treatments. It’s unclear whether that’s true or not, but at the moment Van Halen is living with his wife Janie Van Halen in Los Angeles.
HPV & Throat Cancer
The human papillomavirus, HPV, is best known for its connection to cervical cancer. However, over the years researchers have found that the common virus can actually be the cause of head and beck cancers such as throat cancer. Oftentimes, a diagnosis can be caused by excessive smoking and alcohol use, but recent studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say 60-70% of these throat cancers may be linked to HPV or caused by a combination of HPV, alcohol, and tobacco.
Dr. Allen Ho breaks down the basics of HPV-related cancers
Unlike cervical cancer, there is no screening process for throat cancer which can make catching the disease early difficult. Luckily, HPV-related throat cancer can be treated relatively easy in some cases by using a combination of radiation and chemotherapy treatments as opposed to tobacco-caused throat cancers. Additionally, patients shouldn’t be scared of spreading the disease to their partners.
Related: Get the Facts: HPV Can Cause Cancer in Men Too
“Right now there are no screening guidelines to screen for throat cancer, unlike cervical cancer with pap smears,” Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist specializing in head and neck cancer at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, tells SurvivorNet. “There are no standard tests to determine if you harbor the virus. However, there is no concern that you’re going to spread this cancer to your partner or to anyone else, because at this point your partner has already been exposed to the virus and likely cleared it.”
Dr. Jessica Geiger explains what you need to know about HPV-linked throat cancer
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