from black eyed peas star to cancer survivor
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

From Black Eyed Peas star to cancer survivor

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today From Black Eyed Peas star to cancer survivor

Jaime Luis Gomez, aka Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, and a cancer survivor.
Mexico City - Arab Today

Jimmy Gomez, better known as the rapper Taboo from The Black Eyed Peas, had money, fame and a multi-platinum career when a strange back pain brought his world crashing down.

The six-time Grammy winner went to the doctor and got a gut-wrenching diagnosis: he had testicular cancer.

He had more than 100 million record sales to his name and a string of worldwide dance hits like "I Gotta Feeling" and "Where Is the Love?", but it meant nothing in the face of cancer's cruel reality, he told AFP in an interview.

At first, he was only able to piece the details together slowly.

"They didn't tell me what type of cancer I had. They didn't tell me what stage I was in. They just told me, Mr Gomez, you have cancer," said Taboo, 42.

"My life flashed before my eyes. I thought about my kids, I thought about my wife. Nothing prepares you for the shock of someone telling you you have that horrible disease."

That was in 2014. It was only last year that Taboo went public about his struggle with cancer -- now in remission after a gruelling series of chemotherapy treatments.

Today, the Los Angeles native is an ambassador for the American Cancer Society and a vocal ally and fundraiser for cancer survivors everywhere.

He spoke to AFP ahead of the World Cancer Leaders' Summit in Mexico City, which gathered high-level policy makers Tuesday for an annual exchange on fighting the world's second-leading cause of death.

It was not an easy journey to get there.

First Taboo went through an agonizing series of chemotherapy treatments: 12 weeks of six-hour daily sessions that he describes as "war, torture and a nightmare" rolled into one.

"That was the feeling," he said.

"I've never been to war, but internally, when they're destroying your insides to kill everything that's good to kill that one thing that's bad, which is the tumor, it scarred me psychologically, emotionally, inside and outside."

- 'Warrior instinct' -

The idea that dealing with cancer is a "battle" has come in for criticism lately from some who resent the violence of the analogy and the implication that those suffering from the disease just need to "fight harder."

But Taboo is an unapologetic anti-cancer warrior.

He is intensely defiant when he talks about the disease.

"I'm living, dude. I'm alive. See this face? I can actually smile and say, Look, I beat the f--- out of cancer," he said, mouthing the end of the expletive.

He spoke to AFP decked out in black, his bald head crowned by a wide-brimmed "zoot suit" hat evocative of his Mexican roots, and sporting turquoise-and-silver jewelry in a nod to his Native American heritage on his mother's side.

He cited his maternal grandmother as his biggest influence.

"She's a Shoshone Native American woman who had a warrior instinct. And my warrior instinct kicked in" after he was diagnosed, he said.

But you need both love and fight to deal with cancer, he added.

At the American Cancer Society, he wants to be an "ambassador of love," he said, breaking into the chorus of one of his biggest hits: "Where Is the Love?"

Last year, as a fundraiser for the Cancer Society, he recorded a song called "The Fight."

His message today to others is that they can defeat cancer, too.

"I beat it down. And now I'm going to use this gift of life to give people hope and to say, Look, I went down that path too, I was there lying on that bed, you're not alone. I am one of you and you are one of me. Let's get charged up for life."

Maybe the title of his next hit song.

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

from black eyed peas star to cancer survivor from black eyed peas star to cancer survivor

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

from black eyed peas star to cancer survivor from black eyed peas star to cancer survivor

 



GMT 05:50 2017 Tuesday ,15 August

20 killed in Takhar funeral attack

GMT 04:51 2017 Thursday ,13 April

Huda Kattan among top 10 beauty influencers

GMT 09:44 2018 Saturday ,06 January

Aoun to deliver speech in Rome this afternoon

GMT 09:14 2017 Saturday ,30 December

London stocks end year on record high

GMT 11:47 2017 Monday ,11 December

France's rightwing shifts after Macron victory

GMT 04:49 2013 Monday ,27 May

Feng Shui living room concepts

GMT 19:45 2017 Wednesday ,18 January

The UAE Releases Global State of the Future Report

GMT 23:40 2017 Wednesday ,18 October

OIC condemns terrorist attack in Jeddah

GMT 16:41 2017 Saturday ,18 February

FBMA International Show Jumping Cup 2017 competition

GMT 17:43 2017 Tuesday ,14 February

Spanish activists taken to court over BDS activism

GMT 21:37 2017 Sunday ,02 July

Religious tourism lottery to be held on Monday

GMT 15:27 2017 Saturday ,24 June

US imposes ban on fresh Brazil beef imports

GMT 06:07 2017 Tuesday ,24 October

Air Force set to create new ISR unit with Global Hawk

GMT 03:49 2017 Thursday ,22 June

Dalai Lama says will visit Trump

GMT 03:52 2017 Sunday ,15 January

Drydocks World and GDRFA sign MoU partnership
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday