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Legendary actor Edward James Olmos recently opened up about his battle with throat cancer, but he’s given no word on how brutal his battle really was.
Olmos, 76, said. Mando Fresko’s Podcast “Mando & Friends”“I had several near-death experiences, but I was on the verge of it.”
“I just got over it,” he said. “December 20th was my last radiation treatment. [for] For months I was undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. Because the radiation attacked my throat. Many friends have died because of this. It’s a very strong disease. Cancer is menstrual, but it’s really hard to get in your throat… it took months and months. ”
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Olmos, known for his Oscar-nominated performances in “Miami Vice” and the 1988 drama “Stand and Delivery,” detailed his grueling treatment, saying, “Just before starting treatment, the doctors said, It was like saying, ‘This is the only way.'” What we have to tell you is we don’t know what kind of voice you make… we’re shooting your vocal cords, we’re shooting your throat where you eat, where you swallow, where you talk, where you breathe – it all goes through here, okay? ”
“That’s why we’re filming, and it’s going to be the most difficult place to film because of the use of radiation and chemotherapy,” he continued.
The actor also said he still has bumps in his lymph nodes that were scorched from the radiation.
The “Selena” star also lost 55 pounds. Although she wasn’t muscular, she claimed she was and still is in good shape, swimming daily and doing strength training. “The key to survival is exercise.”
Now that it’s over, he’s willing to talk about it, including what he learned from the ordeal. “It was an experience that changed me and made me realize how wonderful this life is.”
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