Nicko McBrain , of Iron Maiden , revealed to the public that he battled laryngeal cancer in 2020. The information was released with a warning about the importance of early diagnosis of the disease, published last Thursday, the 16th, by the University of Miami .
Five years after Bruce Dickinson recovered from throat cancer , McBrain was diagnosed with stage one laryngeal cancer last year. The week after his diagnosis, the drummer underwent successful surgery and has weekly check-ups to ensure the disease does not return.
In the report published by the institution, the drummer warned people with persistent vocal problems: because of shouting during performances with Maiden, McBrain thought that hoarseness and loss of voice were common symptoms, but they were signs of the disease. He has also been receiving vocal therapy ever since.
Early diagnosis, thanks to McBrain's trusted doctor, made all the difference in his treatment and victory against cancer. "I strongly recommend that anyone feeling there's something different with their voice get it checked. And don't delay. It was very good for me to find out at stage one," said the drummer.
“Cancer in this part of the body can grow in and around the vocal cords and other nearby structures,” explained the specialists at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, responsible for the musician's treatment. “Many cases present with a change in voice like Nicko's, and often, when the tumor is small, in the range of one to two millimeters, it is an easier tumor to remove completely.”
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