VALERIE BERTINELLI - VAN HALEN 'IN DENIAL' ABOUT MOUTH CANCER LINK TO SMOKING

VAN HALEN 'IN DENIAL' ABOUT MOUTH CANCER LINK TO SMOKING

Rocker EDDIE VAN HALEN refused to accept his cigarette habit may have contributed to the mouth cancer he once suffered, according to his ex-wife VALERIE BERTINELLI. The actress claims the Van Halen star, who beat cancer in 2002, instead blamed his disease on holding a metal guitar pick in his mouth over the years. Bertinelli tells U.S. magazine Ladies Home Journal, "The guy has mouth cancer, gets part of his tongue cut out, and he still insists cigarettes have nothing to do with it. "You should have seen the guy (alternative medicine practitioner) he attributes his 'cure' to. They sat around drinking and smoking in our hotel room. But, well, cancer hasn't come back yet, so who am I to say... "There was so much denial." Bertinelli and Van Halen's divorce was finalised in December (07), after 26 years of marriage. The actress insists her ex is "a good man," but he needs to face up to his health and other issues. She adds, "He’s got issues that he needs to deal with and I hope he will. No one else can bring him out of what he’s in but himself."