MCA the deep voiced rapper of the Beastie Boys has cancer.

the Times’ Health and Science editor, Tami Dennis, wrote a really good indepth piece about this type of cancer in Booster Shots. an excerpt:

Now for some facts on salivary gland cancer:

* For starters, it’s rare, accounting for less than 1% of cancers in the United States.

* It’s most often found in people 55 and older (which is true for most cancers). Yauch is 44.

* Risk factors include smoking, prior radiation treatment and, occasionally, a family history. There are other, less proven connections, such as a poor diet and environmental exposures, but the data there are a bit thin.

Here’s an overview of salivary gland cancer, courtesy of the American Cancer Society.

The explanatory portion begins with this context:

Salivary gland cancer is a cancer that starts in one of the salivary glands. It is not a single disease. There are actually several different salivary glands found inside and near your mouth. Several types of cancer and benign (non-cancerous) tumors can develop in these glands.

even though i know everything will be fine, im still nervous. the only time i met the boys i insulted their choice of clothing – probably cuz i didnt know anyone was about to get cancer two years later.

the original version of the spike jonze classic (as it has the MTV-banned mannequin being thrown into the LA River scene)