Wolfgang Hits Number 1
- Eddie Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang Van Halen, 29, has a hit song “Distance,” which hit number one on the charts; Wolfgang says he wishes his dad was here.
- Eddie was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 2000, and more than ten years later, he was diagnosed with throat cancer; he passed from the disease in October 2020 at 65.
- Coping with the loss of a parent to cancer is an ongoing process, which takes time.
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Tongue and Throat Cancer
Eddie Van Halen was diagnosed with tongue cancer for the first time in 2000. He had part of his tongue removed as a result of his treatment and was in remission in 2002. But some of the cancerous cells traveled from his tongue to his throat, and Van Halen was diagnosed with throat cancer around 2014.
The late rocker said that he suspected his cancer was caused from the copper and brass guitar picks he put in his mouth during his decades-long music career. The two primary causes of throat cancer include smoking and excessive drinking, and Van Halen said that he started smoking and drinking when he was only 12 years old.
There are no annual screenings for throat cancer like other types of cancer. However, there are signs to look out for and consult your doctor if they happen often. Symptoms of throat cancer may include vocal changes, coughing, trouble swallowing, ear pain, a lump or sore in the throat that won’t heal, unexplained weight loss and a persistent sore throat.
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Coping with Loss of a Parent to Cancer
Wolfgang is proof that even in the face of tremendous grief after losing a parent to cancer, it’s possible to continue on with life. Camila Legaspi was in high school when she lost her mother to breast cancer, and Legaspi credits therapy with helping her find her way through that rocky, grief-filled period.
In a previous interview, she says, “Therapy saved my life. I was dealing with some really intense anxiety and depression at that point. It just changed my life, because I was so drained by all the negativity that was going on. Going to a therapist helped me realize that there was still so much out there for me, that I still had my family, that I still had my siblings.”
“The reality is,” says Legaspi, “is when you lose someone, it’s really, really, really hard. And it’s totally OK to talk to someone. And I’m so happy that I talked to my therapist. Keep your chin up, and it’s going to be OK. No matter what happens, it’s going to be OK. There are so many of us that have gone through the same thing that you’re going through. And, together, we’re all going to get through it.”
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