Poison drummer Rikki Rockett announces he's cancer free

The 54-year-old hair-metaller fell ill in June 2015 and following a series of biopsies doctors discovered a tumour at the base of his tongue. It was the same type of cancer that Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson battled.

Rikki underwent nine gruelling rounds of chemotherapy followed by 35 radiotherapy sessions but, with little signs of improvement, earlier this year he put his name forward for an experimental treatment called immunotherapy.

After being accepted for immunotherapy, which is designed to boost the body's natural defences to fight cancer, at the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center Rikki says he’s now cancer free.

Rikki announced the fantastic news on his Instagram page last night, sharing a photo of his specialist Dr Ezra Cohen together with an image of himself outside the clinic.

> Because of this man, I am cancer free!!! #drezracohen > > A photo posted by Rikki Rockett (@rikkirockett) on Jul 13, 2016 at 2:04pm PDT

> “Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health” Thank You!!! > > A photo posted by Rikki Rockett (@rikkirockett) on Jul 13, 2016 at 3:02pm PDT

Speaking about when he was accepted for the trial, Rikki told the San Diego Union-Tribune: “I was doing everything I could to think positive and that I was going to get on the trial. My little girl's getting her makeup done, and I get a call. I get looks from everybody like, I can't believe you're going to take this call. But it was Dr Cohen and I went, 'no, this is Dr Cohen, and I'm going to take this call.'

“It was almost like God intervened, 'For your daughter's life, I'm going to make this happen.'”

Poison put all touring commitments on hold while Rikki received his treatment.