Charlie Daniels - Music Legend

by Julie McKenna

For over 35 years, Charlie Daniels
has been performing his unique style
of energetic music labeled only as
“CDB music.” He began learning
guitar and fiddle when he was a teenager,
and eventually became proficient
with many instruments. After he graduated
from high school in 1955, he
formed a band and the rest is music
history. The Charlie Daniels Band
has since spun out classics such as
“Long Haired Country Boy,” “Uneasy
Rider,” and the crossover hit that
Charlie is most famous for, “The Devil
Went Down to Georgia.” Recently,
Charlie used his spirited attitude that
has made him a music legend to beat
prostate cancer.

Charlie had an elevated PSA level
for several years and monitored it
closely. His doctors performed multiple
biopsies during this time that
turned up negative. Finally, in 2001,
his astute surveillance paid off when
a biopsy tested positive for prostate
cancer.

When he heard the diagnosis from
his doctor over the phone, Charlie realized
that telling his wife would be
the most difficult part. “She had gone
shopping and I had time to get over
the shock a little bit before she got
back. I had time to call some doctors
and get some answers on what
I needed to do,” recalls Charlie. “But
when she got back and I told her it
was cancer, it devastated her. I told
her that we were going to be fine and
God would take care of us.”

Charlie Daniels’ crossover hit, “The Devil Went
Down to Georgia,” made music history.

Being the devoted performer that
he is, Charlie was also concerned
about whether he would be able to
finish his touring season. “I was able
to finish my tour because the doctors
gave me some drugs that would basically
just stop the cancer where it was
and keep it confined until my surgery,
which was scheduled for November
20,” says Charlie. “I told the guys in
my band about it and they said, ‘Go
get it taken care of. We’ll be here
when you get back.’ They were all
very supportive. They have been with
me for a long time.”

Charlie followed his doctor’s recommendation
to have surgery with
no radiation. Of his surgery Charlie
recalls, “I’m not trying to make it
sound like it was a cake walk by any
stretch of the imagination, but it was
not nearly as traumatic as I thought it
was going to be. There was very little
pain involved.”

The most inconvenient aspect for
Charlie was taking it easy after the
surgery. “They wouldn’t let me do
anything for six weeks,” Charlie jokes.
“But I got back to normal after the six
weeks was over and I went right back
out on the road.”

Charlie credits his positive attitude
and faith in God for his unproblematic
recovery. “I was comforted all through
this thing – even when I went into the
operating room I remember distinctly
feeling peace about it.”

Currently, Charlie is enjoying touring
and performing. “I’m just back
doing what I do,” says Charlie. “I’ve
got to stay on top of this. Every three
months I go back and have blood
work and other tests done. Other than
that I’m living a very normal life.”

As for what advice he can offer
someone who is diagnosed with
cancer, Charlie says attitude is everything.
“If you are diagnosed with
prostate cancer, don’t look at it like
it’s going to knock a hole in your
life,” Charlie recommends. He feels
it is important to research your options
and make an informed decision
about your treatment. “You will also
want to find a doctor you feel good
about and trust. After that, put the
rest of it in the hands of the Lord and
go for it!”

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

This article was originally published in Coping® with Cancer magazine,
January/February
2003.