Edward James Olmos hailed as he reveals he thought he'd die of throat cancer before 'miraculous' recovery

LOS ANGELES, CALFORNIA: In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail, veteran actor Edward James Olmos shared the details of his battle with throat cancer, revealing that he had prepared himself for the possibility of not waking up each morning during his treatment.

The 77-year-old actor, known for his roles in iconic productions like 'Blade Runner,' 'Miami Vice,' 'Battlestar Galactica,' and 'The Mayans MC,' disclosed the challenges he faced during his cancer treatment, describing it as an ordeal that left him unable to swallow, talk, eat, or drink.

Edward James Olmos reflects on his battle with throat cancer

Olmos faced some tough times at the end of his treatment, especially in the months following his last treatment in December 2022. He mentioned that once all the chemotherapy, radiation, and treatment stopped, his body struggled, making those months particularly challenging.

"Basically 16 months ago, I had my last treatment on December 20, 2022, and the next two, three months were the hardest of the entire journey," he said.

"Once they stopped all of the chemo, all the radiation and all the treatment, was when the body gave up… And that's when it really became difficult. But past that, into 90 days, a hundred days, I was in much better shape. And today I feel very strong and I do a lot of physical exercise."

Olmos went through some intense medical treatments that affected his throat and lymph nodes significantly. He mentioned that these treatments "burned out" his throat and lymph nodes to the point where he had to be fed through an IV drip.

Pointing to his throat, he added, "This area was completely annihilated."

"They told me before I started the treatments, we have no idea what you're going to sound like. It's the treatment usually that kills you, because what ends up happening, it weakens the body because of the chemotherapy, takes out all your white blood cells."

"And what ends up happening is you have no immune system. So if I had bad kidneys, bad heart, bad lungs, bad anything, I wouldn't be here right now. Thank God my body was okay."

Olmos' brush with death has profoundly influenced his perspective on life.

"It makes you reflect all the way around," he said. "There's no other way. You definitely have a new lease on life, so you definitely reevaluate everything. So I am very grateful."

Olmos' commitment to staying active is a key component of his health and recovery regimen.

"I'm close to 80, so I know I look good, but I'm old," he said.

"You are what you eat and you are what you do… So if you don't do anything, you won't be around very long. But if you do stuff, you keep your body moving and you keep on stretching, you keep on doing things that most people give up. 'The way you eat, the way you exercise, the way you sleep, basic fundamentals,' he added. "

"You have to really understand them. That's the key to your life."

Support pours in for Edward James Olmos as he discusses cancer fight and recovery

As news of veteran actor Edward James Olmos's battle with throat cancer and subsequent recovery spreads, messages of support and admiration have flooded in from fans and well-wishers.

One user expressed heartfelt admiration for Olmos' resilience saying, "What a fighter! Much humble admiration to you." 

Another fan, who has been a longtime admirer of Olmos's work, expressed relief and joy upon learning about his recovery by saying, "So glad to hear Mr Olmos is doing well after his cancer ordeal. Have been a longtime fan. " 

Another user wrote, "What a shame. It has been said many time before, but sometimes treatments are harder on the body than the disease itself. Loved him in the movie "Selena." Wishing Mr Olmos a miracle. Never give up."

Another added, "Thank you EJO for sharing your story and many years to come. " 

One user wrote, "Such a great actor and a very strong man.God bless him and I hope he continues to live his life to the fullest."

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