Peter Criss, Legendary KISS Drummer, Opens Up About His Battle with Breast Cancer
Peter Criss, legendary drummer of the rock group KISS, spoke with Andy Chase recently about his battle with breast cancer.
Criss is celebrating the fifth anniversary of his successful treatment for breast cancer in 2008 and now dedicates much of his time to raising awareness for the fight against breast cancer.
Criss is involved with The Cancer Support Community, a non-profit organization based in Tinton Falls and Toms River. He will take part in Making Strides for Breast Cancer, a charity walk in Point Pleasant Beach on October 21.
Members of the public can donate to Criss' team via the American Cancer Society's website here.
"My wife saved my life," Criss said of his wife Gigi, who pushed him to get an abnormal pain in his chest examined by a doctor. That early intervention was key to Criss' survival.
While he was blessed with early detection and his treatment did not require chemotherapy, Criss still worries that his cancer could return.
"When you get this disease, you're never out of the water," he said. "I still get paranoid."
"That's the heavy part about the disease," Criss added. "I still have the fear in me and I always will. You live with that."
Criss hopes that he can help raise awareness among men that they can potentially get breast cancer and that they shouldn't be ashamed.
"Men get it," he said. "I think us men need you women to help us survive."
"All I'm trying to do is just get the awareness in guys' brains," Criss added. "You can get this."
His battle with cancer is among the many topics covered in Criss' new book, Makeup to Breakup: My Life in and Out of Kiss. The memoir tackles many heavy subjects including his underprivileged youth, personal struggles with addiction and his relationships with his KISS bandmates.
"I might have to leave the country for a while," he joked. "There's a lot of stuff the fans just don't know about."
The book is scheduled to be released on October 23. Criss will sign copies on October 27 at 7 p.m. at the Barnes and Noble store at Monmouth Mall in Eatontown.
Hear the interview below:
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