Rockstar David Roach from Junkyard announces he's been diagnosed with 'very aggressive' cancer
The musician, who has fronted U.S. heavy metal band Junkyard since 1987, revealed he has squamous cell carcinoma, which is 'affecting his head, neck, and throat'.
Last week, David admitted recent results 'completely shattered our world', with the band starting a GoFundMe page to help with medical costs.
In an update shared to the band's Instagram, a message from the singer and his fiancee Jennifer read: 'First off, we want to thank you all for the overwhelming support and love you've shown us during this incredibly challenging time.
'We wish we could respond to each of you, but honestly, there are no words right now. We're still struggling to process the news we received on Tuesday.
'After David's ongoing fever and cough led us to the ER, we got results that have completely shattered our world.'
They continued: 'It's devastating and life-altering, and we're trying to navigate through the emotions and uncertainty that come with it.
'David is showing such incredible strength and resilience, and even in the midst of this darkness, he's still managing to keep his sense of humor. It's a reminder of how amazing he is.
'But we know this journey ahead will be extremely tough, David made it clear he is not giving up hope and we're going to need all of your love and prayers.
'Thank you for standing by us. Your kindness and support mean everything to us. Please keep David in your thoughts as we take this one step at a time.'
Fundraiser: The band has started a GoFundMe to help with medical costs for David
Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of cancer that develops in the squamous cells, which are found on the surface of the skin and in the lining of many organs.
It often develops in sun-exposed areas like the face, ears, neck, and back, but can occur anywhere on the body.
If caught early, the five-year survival rate is around 99 per cent.
But when the cancer has spread beyond the skin or origin site, the five-year survival rate drops to less than 50 per cent.
Around 1.8million Americans are diagnosed per year and up to 15,000 die from the disease.
A statement previously published by the band read: 'As many of you know, David who is a friend to all is in the fight of his life battling aggressive squamous cell carcinoma affecting his head, neck, and throat.
'Currently David requires around the clock care and supervision. David's fiancee Jennifer has had to step away from traditional employment to become his full time care giver.
'While they have applied for disability and full time caregivers assistance it is an extremely long waiting period to go through the processing and receive approval. This has put them in a dire situation.
'This has been a devastating blow for David especially after he finally found happiness, stability, and things were going well for him.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
21 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Eating tinned food favourite daily triggered deadly poisoning - I was shocked by the safe limit
An office worker has claimed eating tuna three times a day for months left her with life-threatening mercury poisoning. Nasha Montgomery, 29, from Alabama in the US, spent four months at the end of 2021 batch-cooking salads with tuna for its hefty protein quantity. She would eat it with crackers for breakfast, in sandwiches for lunch and as a snack at work daily. It meant she was consuming around six tins in total per week, or around 1.5kg. But, as she revealed in a recent social media video, she began feeling sick after a couple of months, and suffering muscle cramps, tingling in her hands and feet, and a metallic taste in her mouth. The results of a blood test taken during a routine check-up came back normal—so she put it down to stress related to her new job in office management. But when her condition failed to improve she returned to the doctor, who asked if she'd been eating large quantities of any food in particular. 'I said tuna,' she recalled. A more detailed blood test subsequently revealed 'high levels' of the metal mercury in her body. Doctors diagnosed her with suspected mercury poisoning—when the toxic metal builds up inside the body, causing a range of symptoms including memory problems, numbness, tremors and, in the most severe cases, permanent and lethal brain and kidney damage. Fish with the highest level of mercury include shark, swordfish, tuna and king mackerel. According to studies, mercury poisoning is a risk if you eat more than 25 tins of tuna a week, or around 16 tuna steaks. However some types, like albacore, which Ms Montgomery was eating, contain higher amounts of the metal. Those trying to have a baby or who are pregnant should not eat more than two cans of tuna or two tuna steaks a week due to the risk of mercury poisoning to a baby. Speaking of her diagnosis, Ms Montgomery said: 'I was in shock as I thought I was doing something right by eating the tuna. 'It was healthy, and the things I was eating the tuna with were also healthy. 'I felt like I was doing right by myself but too much of a good thing can always backfire.' Doctors advised her to cut tuna out of her diet for six to eight months, until all the symptoms had vanished. 'I basically had to detox from tuna. I was detoxing like I was addicted to it,' she said. I'm now very careful now about my fish choices. 'Sometimes I do feel tingly or numbness in my fingers and feet but aside from that I haven't experienced any long-term effects.' Treatment options other than stopping exposure for mercury poisoning involve chelation therapy—whereby a machine removes metals from the body via an IV drip. However, the best treatment option will depend on how you consumed or came into contact with mercury. For example, other options are dialysis and surgery which can physically remove mercury from the body. Mercury ends up in fish due to a build-up in the ocean, which happens due to mining and burning coal. In the UK, the government says the maximum level for mercury allowed in tuna products is 1.0g/kg. Last year, Foodwatch and Paris-based NGO Bloom, found 148 cans of tuna, from five European countries, all tested positive for mercury. One tin bought in a Paris Carrefour City store had a record level of 3.9 mg/kg, the report said—13 times the 0.3 mg/kg limit. Bloom and Foodwatch urged European nations to 'activate a safeguard clause' to prevent the sale and promotion of products exceeding 0.3mg/kg. They also called on governments to remove 'all products' with tuna from school canteens, nurseries, maternity wards, hospitals and care homes. However, the UK Foods Standard Agency said: 'The study shows a relatively small number of products were above the legal limit. 'Out of 30 products from the UK market, just one product was found which may be over the legal level.
Sky News
22 minutes ago
- Sky News
Diddy trial latest: Jurors return for second day of deliberations
15:41:02 Jurors send a note A note has been received from the jury and legal teams are discussing in the courtroom. Yesterday, jurors sent a note raising an issue with one panel member following instructions, and another asking for clarification on "distribution". The judge answered the second point today, with a note clarifying it did not have to involve a sale. Stay with us for an update on the latest note. 14:52:58 'It's going to be all right': Diddy reassures mother in courtroom We should have sketches from the courtroom soon, but before then we can tell you that Sean "Diddy" Combs is wearing a very similar outfit to yesterday - light trousers and a light sweater. While the jury deliberates, the parties do not sit in court, but they convened in the courtroom briefly first thing. Combs turned and waved to his family, and put his hands in prayer. He also blew kisses to his mother, Janice. On his way out, Combs leaned over to tell her: "Just relax, it's going to be all right, Mom." He also told her he liked her outfit. 14:46:20 Arrivals at court earlier today As usual, Sean "Diddy" Combs's mother, Janice, is in court to support him today. She is a familiar face at the court in Manhattan after attending the trial every day for almost two months now. Combs's publicist Holly Baird is also in court, along with his legal team. 14:10:50 From raids on home to charges: How did the case unfold? In March last year, federal agents raided properties owned by Sean "Diddy" Combs in Los Angeles, California, and Miami, Florida, and the charges against him were announced six months later. But before that, it was the rapper's ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura, known as R&B singer Cassie, who made headline-generating allegations against him . She filed a lawsuit against Combs in November 2023, alleging sexual abuse, trafficking and violence over the course of 10 years. The civil case was settled the following day - but claims from others, denied by Combs, followed shortly afterwards. Cassie was one of the alleged victims in this criminal case, and testified at the beginning of the trial. Track how the case unfolded in this timeline of the allegations and the trial. 13:42:02 Today is the second day of deliberations for the jury in the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial. After retiring to consider the case yesterday, jurors have spent about five-and-a-half hours in discussions so far. Here is a reminder of the charges, which Combs has pleaded not guilty to and strenuously denied. Count 1 - racketeering Count 2 - sex-trafficking of Cassie Ventura Count 3 - transporting individuals including but not limited to Cassie Ventura to engage in prostitution Count 4 - sex-trafficking of Jane* Count 5 - transporting individuals including but not limited to Jane to engage in prostitution Jane*, a former girlfriend of Combs's, is not her real name. She testified using a pseudonym. Jurors must return verdicts of not guilty or guilty for each charge, and analyse the evidence separately for each count. They are due to start again at about 2pm UK time. We will bring you updates from the court as soon as we get them. 22:13:59 Court adjourned - jurors sent home for the day The jury has sent two notes, with the first a question about one of the points made in their instructions on the law and the charges. The other says they will finish for the day and return for deliberations tomorrow. After calling jurors back into the courtroom, Judge Arun Subramanian tells them the court will respond to their first request tomorrow. He tells them to be back before 9am and not to discuss the case with each other or anyone else until then. "Continue to keep an open mind," he says. "With that I wish you a very pleasant evening." We'll be back with updates tomorrow. 21:56:20 Jurors send another note Jurors in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs have sent a second note to the judge. Their first was sent about an hour into deliberations today, saying there were concerns over one juror's ability to follow instructions. We are awaiting details on what this second note says. 20:38:56 Sketches from the courtroom There have been no cameras in court throughout this trial - because the trial is being held in a federal court. So court sketchers have been there to paint a picture of the atmosphere each day. Artist Jane Rosenberg sketched these images of Sean "Diddy" Combs in the courtroom earlier today. In the first, he confers with his legal team, while in the second he passes a note to one attorney, Marc Agnifilo. The final picture shows Judge Arun Subramanian.
BBC News
32 minutes ago
- BBC News
How do Americans celebrate Independence Day?
Every year on 4 July people across the United States celebrate Independence Day. It's a time when Americans remember the day in 1776 when the country declared its independence from a big, colourful holiday filled with fun traditions that bring families and communities together. Here are five ways Americans celebrate the Fourth of July! Independence Day Fireworks While Brits mark summer with Glastonbury, Wimbledon, and the occasional BBQ, Americans go all in on 4 July are probably the most famous part of Independence Day. Skies across the country explode with colour. Cities like New York, the capital city Washington DC, and Boston put on huge displays, often set to music. On the other side of the country, Huntington Beach, a laid-back surf town in sunny Southern California throws what's widely considered the biggest Independence Day celebration on the US West Coast, drawing hundreds of thousands to its coastline for a full day (and night) of fireworks, and beach also buy smaller fireworks or sparklers to use in their backyards -a bit like bonfire night here in the UK, without the bonfire. Parades Parades are a big part of the day, especially in small towns and neighbourhoods. You'll see marching bands, military veterans, floats decorated in red, white, and blue, and even children riding bikes with streamers and flags. Some parades, like the one in Bristol, Rhode Island, have been happening for over 200 years! People line the streets to wave flags and cheer. Music and concerts Live music is everywhere on the 4 July. Cities host free outdoor concerts where people bring blankets and picnic baskets to enjoy the show. In Washington DC, there's a famous concert called "A Capitol Fourth" held on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol building. It features pop stars, classical musicians, and ends with a big fireworks finale. Lots of people watch it live on TV too. Sports Sports are a fun part of the holiday, especially baseball—often called "America's pastime." Many Major League Baseball teams play special games on the Fourth of July. Fans often wear patriotic gear to support their teams. Reenactments If you've ever wondered what it's like to travel back in time to 1776, Williamsburg is where America's Independence Day goes full-on time machine. On the 4 July, Colonial Williamsburg, a living-history museum in the Virginia town, transforms into an 18th-century celebration with actors in wigs. You'll hear booming cannons and dramatic public readings of the Declaration of Independence.
