In a candid interview on the December 16 episode of SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”, Doug Aldrich, guitarist for The Dead Daisies, Whitesnake, and Dio, offered an update on his health, three months after undergoing “very successful” surgery following a throat cancer diagnosis. Aldrich shared the shocking story of how he discovered the illness and the journey that led him to surgery and radiation treatment.

Aldrich, who had always considered himself incredibly healthy, explained that it never crossed his mind that he could develop cancer. “I never thought I would get cancer. It just never occurred to me. I’ve always been super healthy and — knock on wood — I never had a major anything,” he said. However, everything changed one day in May, just before heading out on tour with The Dead Daisies. While shaving, Aldrich noticed a small bump on his neck. Initially, he dismissed it as a swollen gland, thinking it might be a viral issue that would go away. But after several weeks without any pain or symptoms, he decided to get checked out.

“I went and did the dates — it was, like, three weeks of dates or something in the U.S.,” Aldrich recalled. “And I got home and got an appointment… It took a little time. As you know, to get a doctor’s appointment, it takes a minute. So it was another few weeks before I got in.” After a CT scan and MRI, doctors were concerned about the bump, which turned out to be a lymph node swollen due to a cancerous tumor on his tonsil. Aldrich received a biopsy that confirmed it was HPV 16 throat cancer.

“I started freaking out, like, ‘Oh, man. Okay, what stage is it?’,” Aldrich admitted, noting how difficult it was to get clear answers. “It’s very difficult to get definitive answers on stuff… It’s very confusing.”

Despite the scare, Aldrich’s wife, Daniela, played an instrumental role in helping him find the right treatment, securing him consultations with doctors at top institutions like UCLA Medical Center and Cedar Sinai. Ultimately, he chose to move forward with Dr. Ho, a surgeon who was confident in his ability to perform both external and robotic surgery.

Aldrich’s battle wasn’t without complications. The surgery had the potential to damage a nerve in his neck that controls shoulder movement, which could have affected his ability to play guitar. Fortunately, the surgeon was able to preserve the nerve, but Aldrich was still faced with a challenging road ahead.

After the surgery, Aldrich had to undergo six weeks of radiation treatment. “They told me that I needed radiation just to clear it up because it had gone to the lymph nodes on my neck,” he said. “It looked like it was pretty contained, but there might be a little piece or some fragments that would come off, so they need to zap them with radiation just to make sure.”

Radiation took its toll on Aldrich, causing fatigue, nausea, and significant changes to his skin and jaw. “The biggest issue from the radiation was I’d get nauseated and major fatigue,” he shared. “And then little by little your neck on the outside starts to fry and my neck now is like baby skin.”

Despite these challenges, Aldrich remained optimistic, even joking about his inability to enjoy food fully because of the radiation’s impact on his taste buds. “I can’t really eat; it’s hard to chew. That’s one thing. And then I’ve got no taste, because that radiation basically fries your taste buds. So that hopefully will come back,” he said.

Aldrich is hopeful as he continues to recover. He’s set to undergo another PET scan in three months to see if any cancer remains. “The key is just to try and catch it early, if you can,” Aldrich advised, reflecting on the importance of early detection and getting checked regularly.

In late September, his wife Daniela shared an encouraging update, calling Aldrich a “superhero” for his strength during the surgery. “Doug pushed through like the fighter he is. Even the nurse called him a superhero for his strength and determination right after!” she said. “He is the strongest person I know.”

Aldrich’s experience serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of regular check-ups and listening to your body. His resilience through the entire process highlights the strength it takes to fight cancer and the hope that even in the darkest times, recovery is possible.