Latest Drum News
EXODUS drummer Tom Hunting is now “cancer free,” more than two weeks after he underwent a successful total gastrectomy in his battle with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the stomach.
On Monday, July 26, Hunting’s EXODUS bandmate Gary Holt took to his Instagram to write: “Update of Tom! Tom has been home for around a week now, is doing very well despite the pain, is eating real food but also adjusting to a new relationship with food and a new way of having to eat. But he’s a rock in all this, strong as hell and he’s gonna crush this. And he is CANCER FREE. They got it all.
“I know if he was on social media he would thank each and every one of you for all the well wishes, donations, tickets for the benefit show that were purchased as well as the raffle items. Only a matter of time before he is crushing the drums again! He’s got some real healing to do but he is on his way to recovery”.
According to Cancer.org, a total gastrectomy is done if the cancer has spread widely in the stomach. It is also often advised if the cancer is in the upper part of the stomach, near the esophagus.
On July 5, Hunting said that he had four rounds of chemotherapy and that “the mass [had] shrunk to less than half the size it was in March… After recovery [from gastrectomy], I get four more treatments, then I can resume my life cancer-free.”
He added: “I can’t wait to travel the world, playing music, enjoying every moment of this crazy journey!! I’ll check in soon again and share how thing’s are going. THANKS AND MUCH LOVE TO EVERYONE!!! CHEERS!!!!”
Thank you for those of you who gave, A GoFundMe campaign to help Hunting with medical expenses had previously raised more than $108,000 — including $5,000 from Tom’s former EXODUS bandmate, current METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett, and $1,500 from FOZZY singer and wrestling superstar Chris Jericho.
