Van Halen Battles Cancer

By Stephen M. Silverman

11/28/1997 at 12:00 AM EST

Guitarist Eddie Van Halen, 45, the head of a rock group that bears his and his brother Alex's names, is being treated to prevent cancer at Houston's University of Texas M.D., claims the Van Halen Web site. The guitarist, a heavy smoker and recovering alcoholic, is "planning to begin an outpatient clinical trial to prevent cancer," reads a statement on the site. No further details are available. Last November, Van Halen, who is married to actress Valerie Bertinelli, underwent hip replacement surgery.