Health · Medical Research · 7 hrs ago
Travis Barker says esophageal precancer diagnosis led him to quit smoking
Travis Barker says an esophageal precancer diagnosis led him to quit smoking after a doctor warned him it was serious.
The Blink-182 drummer shared the news on a podcast with Kid Cudi, saying he had smoked too much marijuana.
He said he was smoking 10 to 15 blunts a day before receiving the diagnosis.
Barker said he would not have stopped without his doctor’s warning, and he still misses smoking.
He has made running a bigger part of his life, saying it helps him stay sober and feels like therapy.
A near-fatal plane crash in 2008 also helped him overcome opioid addiction; three of his friends died in the crash.
He did not share further details about the diagnosis or any treatment.
Travis Barker said he quit smoking marijuana after being diagnosed with precancer of the esophagus.
The Blink-182 drummer said he had smoked too much and that his doctor warned him to stop.
Barker recalled smoking 10 to 15 blunts a day at the time, according to E! News.
He said running helped him stay sober and became more important to him than smoking.
Barker shared the account on the Nov. 11 episode of the Big Bro with Kid Cudi podcast.
- Who
- Travis Barker, the Blink-182 drummer.
- What
- He said he quit smoking marijuana after being diagnosed with precancer of the esophagus.
- When
- He discussed it on the Nov. 11 episode of the Big Bro with Kid Cudi podcast.
- Where
- The podcast episode; a more specific location is not stated.
- Why
- His doctor warned him to stop smoking after the diagnosis.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Barker survived a near-fatal plane crash that killed three friends.
Barker took up running, which he said helped him stay sober.
Barker discussed his esophageal precancer diagnosis and quitting smoking on the Big Bro with Kid Cudi podcast.
- Diagnosis
- Precancer of the esophagus
- Smoking at the time
- 10 to 15 blunts a day, according to E! News
- Podcast episode
- Nov. 11, 2026
- Band
- Blink-182
- Plane crash
- 2008
3 sources
What people are saying
I only quit because I got diagnosed with precancer of the esophagus
I loved blunts and I would smoke too much.
My running started getting bigger and more important to me than smoking.
This is your warning shot, Trav. Don’t f–k around. You gotta stop smoking.