Poison Drummer Rikki Rockett is Cancer-Free Nine Years After Diagnosis

Usually when I write an article in the “F*ck Cancer” category on this site, I’m reporting on some brilliant artist who died way too young. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: cancer is a little bitch that fights dirty. So I’m always happy when I get to use this category and it’s actually some good news for once! So here’s the good news: Poison drummer Rikki Rockett remains cancer-free nine years after announcing he had been battling throat cancer. Take that, cancer! *kicks cancer in the nuts*

In a recent Halloween interview on SiriusXM’s show Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk (that was transcribed by Blabbermouth), Rikki Rocket, whose real name is Richard Ream, gave an update on his cancer status:

“I’m doing great. No red flags. I mean, of course I had side effects from the radiation treatment I had. I can’t sing for as long periods of time. I was never a lead singer, obviously, but just stuff like that. It takes me longer to eat than most people. I don’t have a hundred percent saliva production, so I’ve gotta drink a lot. And because I drink a lot, I’ve gotta pee a lot. So there’s little things, but, man, I’m alive, and there’s so many people I’ve watched perish over the last couple years. And I just have to — thank God, modern medicine, that everything worked out for me. My wife was such a support, and my doctor was fricking phenomenal, Dr. [Ezra] Cohen [a medical oncologist and associate director for Translational Science at Moores Cancer Center in La Jolla, California]. He saved so many people. He was brave and pushed the limits, and that’s why I survived, because he did a novel type of treatment, because we were out options. I had a 10 percent chance of living. And I’m here for some reason.”

Beating the odds on a 10 percent chance of survival is certainly something to celebrate. Maybe have a party, Rikki. Or maybe have at least 40 of them in 2026 when, we hope, you’ll still be cancer free.