Nearly five years after undergoing a life-saving total gastrectomy, Exodus drummer Tom Hunting has provided a highly positive update on his ongoing recovery from squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach.
During a recent appearance on the “Talk Louder” podcast, hosted by music journalist “Metal Dave” Glessner and vocalist Jason McMaster, the 60-year-old metal veteran discussed his current health status and the regular monitoring he still undergoes to ensure he remains in remission.
“They test [me] all the time. They do pretty thorough scans every six months. I’m almost at the five-year point now of being without cancer, and I’m stoked about the [science]. I had a lot of good people to talk to also on the journey. And I’m really thankful for the science and what they were able to do for me. They basically crushed it. I just had to kind of go along for the ride and just lean into that science and just try to keep my attitude focused. Laughter and just love and all those things culminated into a good outcome for me so far,” he said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
Regarding his physical stamina following the complete removal of his stomach, Tom admitted he is still actively working to rebuild his core strength so he can perform at his peak.
“I feel like I’m still building that up, man. I think every day is part of the journey. They took my stomach out, so my core couldn’t have gotten more damaged. But it had to happen. They had to do what they did. And I’m skiing a lot. I love snow skiing, trying to get my core strong, and playing drums. And the bonus of all that is both things are f**king fun. So, yeah, I’m lucky.”
The drummer has been remarkably transparent about his health journey since his initial diagnosis. In April 2025, he spoke with Radioactive MikeZ on the “Wired In The Empire” radio program, noting that while his physical recovery was going well, the psychological toll of regular medical testing remains a lingering factor.
“I feel good. I’m eating good. I just kind of take it day by day and try not to give cancer too much energy. And I think everything’s okay, but… if I start thinking about it, I get what I call scanxiety, which is a real thing,” he said at the time.
During an earlier 2023 conversation with Radioactive MikeZ, the musician detailed the complex and frightening nature of his initial diagnosis. What began as mysterious weight loss and a sudden lack of appetite eventually led to an endoscopy that revealed a tumor. Looking back on the process, he offered crucial advice to fans:
“I urge anybody who’s having a gut problem, if [the problems] persist, they’re gonna do a CT scan first. Tell them you want an endoscopy. That’s the best test out there. It probably saved my a**, looking back.”
In a shocking twist during his pre-surgery preparations, doctors actually discovered a second, unrelated cancer. A laparoscopic exploration intended to examine his stomach lining revealed mesothelioma nodules on his abdomen wall.
“It’s funny, ’cause had I not had the original cancer, I never would have needed a laparoscopic procedure to begin with, and they never would have found the mesothelioma,” Tom recalled at the time. “But for a minute, when they were doing that test, what they thought they were looking at was the same type of cancer that they saw in my stomach. So there was a minute there where I was, like, stage four plus plus plus, like, ‘Give him chemo. Keep him comfortable.’ I wouldn’t have been a candidate to even get any kind of surgery. So they found out it was a different type of cancer that was in my stomach. That makes you a candidate to get the surgery and the treatment after to try to knock out any nodules of mesothelioma that they would find in there.”
The subsequent surgery successfully removed his stomach and 42 lymph nodes—all of which miraculously tested negative for spreading cancer. Following five and a half months of immunotherapy to train his immune system to fight off rogue cells, Tom is now focused on the future and offering support to others facing similar battles.
“Science is great. And I had a lot of good people to talk to along the way to help me out. And that’s kind of where I’m at now. I wanna be that ear for somebody who’s recently getting told that news,” he stated.
“I’m thankful. And I’m definitely one of the lucky ones. Science is killer, and what they’re able to do for people in my situation and others nowadays is leaps and bounds from what they could do even five years ago.”
