MusicRowLife: Billy Block Undergoes Treatment For Cancer

Billy Block

Billy Block, host/producer of the long-running The Billy Block Show, has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma, according to a letter from Block’s wife Jill.

Block is starting a clinical trial in Nashville on Jan. 29 at St. Thomas Hospital. His doctor is consulting with others at M.D. Anderson in Houston.

“Cancer was discovered when he went to his doctor for bronchitis a few weeks ago. He is starting a clinical trial here in Nashville this month that is promising and gives us hope,” Jill wrote. “As we all know, Billy is an extraordinary man. He is in the fight of his life and we will all love each other through it. ”

A Billy Block Family Fund has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank. Individuals who would like to donate can make a deposit as a gift to the family at any Wells Fargo branch office. Checks can also be made payable to the Billy Block Family Fund and mailed to the attention of Bradley Gallimore or Danielle Lares-Bouharoun at Wells Fargo Private Bank, 3100 West End Ave., Suite 550, Nashville 37203.

Jill’s letter reads:

Hi dear friends and family,

Many of you already know that we have had some rough news this holiday. My sweet husband, soulmate, father to my boys and very best friend has been diagnosed with stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma. After only a chest scan, his cancer is in his lymph nodes, spleen and liver. He is starting a clinical trial here in Nashville this month that is promising and gives us hope. His ROCK STAR cancer doc, Kent Shih, has been consulting with top docs at M.D. Anderson in Houston as to the best treatment options for him, and this clinical trial is the one they all agree is the best place to start. Billy is not in any pain yet and the cancer was discovered when he went to his doctor for bronchitis a couple of weeks ago. If the treatment here is not getting the results we hope for, we have an open door at MD Anderson to pursue more aggressive therapy. He has lots more scans, a brain MRI, tissue analysis coming. We are currently slated to start the medicine infusions on January 29th at St. Thomas Hospital.

The boys have all been keeping busy during this time – Micheal and Shandon working many late nights and double shifts bussing tables and hosting at Carrabba’s in Green Hills, Rocky up early to ref WNSL basketball then off to work at Which Which, Grady pet sitting and officiating hockey for the little guys – we have all hands on deck to make ends meet. I have also been working at Macy’s and now have a new client that starts this month for marketing work. We have never been able to get disability insurance because of Billy’s prior Melanoma surgeries, and his ability to work will be limited. We have set up the Billy Block Family Fund at Wells Fargo Bank as many of you have asked if there is a way to help. You can go to any Wells Fargo branch office anywhere in the country and make a deposit as a gift (for tax purposes) to our family. We are MOST grateful, however, for your prayers, prayers, prayers. As we all know, Billy is an extraordinary man, and has an amazing relationship with God. He is in the fight of his life, and we will all love each other through it. Here is the post he made a few days ago on Facebook which I wanted to share. Please feel free to forward this email on to others as I know many are anxious for an update. Godspeed, everyone, and you are in our prayers as well.
Love, 
Jill and the boys