Edward James Olmos is publicly open for the first time about his battle with throat cancer.
In an interview with Mando Fresko op Mando & Friends Shared Thursday, the actor described his recent health scare.
“This would be the first time I’m going to come out in public and say it, but I had throat cancer,” Olmos said. “I just got through it. December 20 was my last radiation and the week before I finished my chemo.” He noted that he spent “months and months” on radiation and chemo.
The 76-year-old went on to explain that he still has a bump where his lymph nodes used to be: “They burned them out because they blasted this area with radiation.” He also remembered that the doctors had told him that they were not sure what his voice would sound like after the treatment because he was undergoing radiation.
“Many of my friends have died because of this. It’s a very strong disease,” he said.
Despite saying that the fight against cancer “has cost a lot”, the actor explained that he was thankful that he was able to fight it.
“I was in good shape – and I still am,” he said. “I swim at least a mile a day, sometimes two miles a day. Every day, seven days a week. And then I row and do weights.” Olmos noted that he has lost 55 pounds as a result of the health scare. “I lost all my muscle, so over the past four months I’ve been slowly coming back.”
“There were times in the months when I was undergoing the treatments that the body gave up. And I didn’t want to put my food through my stomach. They wanted to put tubes in and give me nutrients because I couldn’t swallow,” Olmos continued. “They had to get 2,500 calories into my body every day. That was ridiculous, that was so hard.” He said he was also given “intravenous water” so he wouldn’t dehydrate, as he couldn’t drink water at the time.
“It was an experience that changed me, the understanding of how wonderful this life is. I’ve had some experiences that have brought me close to death, but that was close.
