Exodus drummer Tom Hunting is cancer free after surgery: “They got it all. Fuck yes!”
Exodus drummer Tom Hunting is cancer-free after undergoing surgery, according to his bandmate Gary Holt.
Hunting began treatment after being diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in April of this year, after he revealed that doctors found a gastric tumour in his upper stomach.
Earlier this month, Holt revealed that Hunting would be undergoing a full gastrectomy – an entire removal of the stomach. In an Instagram post yesterday (July 26), Holt has shared in an update that the surgery was a success.
“Tom has been home for around a week now,” Holt wrote. “[He] 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.”
“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. Fuck yes!”
Holt continued by thanking the band’s fans for their ongoing support of his bandmate. “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,” he wrote.
“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. Final chemo rounds still to go.”
In an earlier statement, Hunting released a statement encouraging people to be on the lookout for symptoms.
“I’m making this public to raise awareness for people to pay attention to symptoms of stomach and esophageal issues,” he wrote.
“If they persist, please go get it checked out. I’m not gonna be sheepish talking about it.”
Ahead of the surgery, Holt proceeded to set up a fundraising campaign for Hunting, raising close to double its initial $50,000 goal.
Exodus are set to release their 11th studio album, ‘Persona Non Grata’, in November. The album was supposed to be released in June, but was delayed to allow Hunting proper time for recovery before the band tours, as reported by Blabbermouth.
