Black Eyed Peas star Taboo has opened up about the silver lining he discovered when battling cancer.
The 44-year-old chart topping star, real name Jamie Gomez, was diagnosed with stage two testicular cancer in 2014 and underwent surgery and intensive chemotherapy to fight the disease and win.
With millions of people infected with life threatening coronavirus around the world, Taboo has explained that being told he had to fight for his own life six years ago put everything into perspective.
And despite being part of one of the world’s most successful bands alongside Will.i.am, apl.de.ap and J Rey Soul, the musician realised that it is what he has at home that counts rather than luxury travel and spoils enjoyed as part of his job.
“When I got diagnosed with cancer in 2014 I was bed-ridden, I was doing chemotherapy, fighting for my life,” he told The Sun.
“That was the first moment to really evaluate the importance of my health and my family, and what the priority in my life is,” he said.
“Not be the entertainer, not be in the music business, but actually being a husband and a father, because at the end of the day all that stuff goes away and what are you left with?” the star continued.
He added: “People should appreciate the time that they have with family and kids and just being present in their lives every day.”
Taboo delayed seeking medical advice after he broke his tailbone during a stage accident in 2006.
He experienced back pain in the following years which continued to get worse until his wife orders him to see a doctor in 2014.
It was at that point he received the diagnosis that he had stage two testicular cancer which had spread to lymph nodes in his spine.
He went on to undergo surgery to remove the cancerous testicle and underwent twelve weeks of chemotherapy to defeat the disease.
Speaking to Coping magazine in 2017, Taboo shared advice for other cancer sufferers.
He said: “You’re not alone – that’s one of the most important things."
He continued: "A lot of times I felt alone during chemotherapy, even if there was someone in the room."
He added: "But it is a community of people that go through it. You’re not alone.”
