Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus announced Wednesday that he is being treated for throat cancer. His publicist released a statement saying that doctors had initially diagnosed the 39-year-old with a “ductal nodule” in his throat and “proceeded with an outpatient treatment plan.” However, after further examination, they found the 2.5 cm lump as “noncancerous,” leading them to place Hoppus under house arrest. He has been barred from drinking or smoking. “I’m currently under medical supervision and it’s being monitored daily,” he told Rolling Stone. “Doctors are confident that a treatment plan can be put in place and I’ll be taking a course of treatment that will hopefully resolve the matter.”
Hoppus revealed that he learned he had cancer from his wife that evening. “We were watching ‘Fahrenheit 451’ and fell asleep,” he said. “The next morning, I was in the shower and my wife looked at me and said, ‘I need to talk to you,’ and she took off her hair and went and had a CAT scan. I had an hour to grab my guitar, my phone and a guitar case and we left.”
Soon after, Hoppus began flying out of the country for chemotherapy, but said he decided to bring his “day job” along for the ride and play Blink-182’s tour the next day, which included the city where Hoppus was born. Doctors gave him three months to live if he continued to skip out on treatment, but Hoppus decided against it.
“I feel better than I’ve ever felt in my life,” he said. “I mean, it’s definitely extremely nerve-wracking but after a period of time, when it’s calmed down a little bit, I’m really feeling good. I guess that’s the understatement of the century.”
Kinda can’t imagine losing him, tho. Hoppus’ absence left drummer Travis Barker to cover three shows with Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. He later told Rolling Stone, “[Travis’] mom is going to have to take over my role for the moment.” Barker told Twitter, “If I ever have to do it, then I totally plan on my wife doing it… not the way you wanna do it, but I did do it and look at where I am now!”
Following Hoppus’ surprise diagnosis, Blink-182 and Avenged Sevenfold were forced to postpone their much-anticipated performances at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards. Blink-182 singer Tom DeLonge, who quit the band in 2015, and Weezer bassist Brian Bell were announced as new replacements in May. The group released a statement on its website saying the new dates wouldn’t be rescheduled and they were returning to the studio, with an eye toward a spring or summer performance.
Hoppus will also be putting his studio resume on hold for a few months. His doctor prescribed a radical regimen of liquid nutrition and the monitoring of his liver for 11 to 14 days. But Hoppus says he intends to follow his plans. “This has nothing to do with a career setback,” he said. “I can’t even picture myself doing anything else right now, because I feel so great. This is the most amazing time of my life, and for that I’m so grateful.”