Understanding Tonsil Cancer
- Moshe Kasher, 46, shared that he was diagnosed with HPV-related tonsil cancer after discovering a lump in his throat and has since undergone surgery to remove the disease.
- While recovery has been challenging, he says the cancer has a high cure rate and is hopeful he’ll soon return to normal life.
- Tonsil cancer is a form of oropharyngeal cancer that occurs when the cells that make up the tonsils grow out of control and form lesions or tumors. Oropharyngeal cancer is a cancer oropharynx the middle portion of the throat (pharynx), beginning at the back of the mouth which includes the base of the tongue, the tonsils and the soft palate.
- Tonsil cancer is becoming increasingly common in the United States. It is often caused by past infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which Kasher has.
- HPV is spread through sexual contact and is extremely common in Western society, according to Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center. The majority of people with HPV will not get cancer, but “for about 6 to 7 percent of the population, the virus remains dormant in our body, and can ultimately cause changes that form cancer.”
- HPV vaccines, like other immunizations that guard against viral infection, stimulate the body to produce antibodies that attack if they encounter the HPV infection by binding to the virus and preventing it from infecting cells. HPV vaccines do not prevent other sexually transmitted diseases or treat existing HPV infections/HPV-caused disease, but their implementation can reduce the rates of certain cancers.
Now, the loving husband to fellow comedian Natasha Leggero, 52, and dad to their 8-year-old daughter Frida, is determined to “get better” after undergoing surgery to remove the cancer, leaving him with a “hardcore neck scar.”
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Kasher admitted his cancer diagnosis and surgery has been “the most terrifying and consciousness consuming” experience of his life.
“My life has been terror, meditation, tears, and medical planning. (Oh and 12 hour days on set pitching jokes.) I truly cannot believe I managed to work an entire movie while dealing with this.”
He then expressed immense gratitude for everyone at Cedars Sinai.
Kasher says he remains in pain and describes the experience as a “very difficult” journey. Still, he is optimistic about his recovery, noting that the type of cancer he was diagnosed with carries an exceptionally high cure rate—often cited at around 95%.
Expert Resources on HPV-Related Cancers
- Get the Facts: What Do We Know About HPV-Linked Throat Cancer?
- Don’t be Swayed by Myths: The HPV Vaccine is Completely Safe
- Get the Facts: HPV Can Cause Cancer in Men Too
- Majority of Throat Cancer Diagnoses Are Caused by HPV – Here’s What You Need to Know
- More than 70% of Americans Don’t Know that HPV Can Cause Anal, Oral, and Penile Cancers — Even With Famous Advocates Such as Michael Douglas and Marcia Cross
He’s now a week away from learning whether he’ll need radiation treatment, but is confident he will be back to his normal “cool dude” self soon.
Referring to what led to his cancer diagnosis, Kasher explained, “The other bit of good news is that this is cancer you get from sex. So it’s cool that now you know I’ve officially had that (in a warehouse in the 90’s! Natasha did not give me this!)
“The bad news is HPV positive tonsil cancer is an epidemic in men under 55. Get checked and vaccinate your damn kids!”
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Alongside a photo of him making a serious face in the hospital, Kasher insisted he “will continue” and “will get better.”
“I’m so grateful I have a life that’s worth living and a kid to raise this Father’s Day,” he added, later noting how he is unsure when he’ll return to making podcasts or his onstage performances.
He concluded, “Thanks to Natasha and all of my wonderful friends who have been so supportive. I woke up on that operating table so flooded with emotions and gratitude for my life and the gift of consciousness.
“I can’t wait to get back to work. But for now – I breathe. I walk. I eat. I survive. I live.”
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All About Tonsil Cancer, a Type of Head and Neck Cancer
Tonsil cancer is a form of oropharyngeal cancer that occurs when the cells that make up the tonsils grow out of control and form lesions or tumors. Oropharyngeal cancer is a cancer oropharynx the middle portion of the throat (pharynx), beginning at the back of the mouth which includes the base of the tongue, the tonsils and the soft palate.
The most common symptom of tonsil cancer is an enlarged tonsil, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
If both tonsils are swollen or enlarged, the problem is less likely to be tonsil cancer, but you should still bring up the change to your health with your doctor.
Other tonsil cancer symptoms include:
- hoarseness
- a lump in the neck or throat
- a persistent sore throat
- difficulty swallowing
ear or jaw pain
Tonsil cancer is becoming increasingly common in the United States. It is often caused by past infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV).
This type of cancer falls under the umbrella of the general classification term head and neck cancer.
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), head and neck cancer is “a broad term encompassing a number of different malignant tumors that develop in or around the throat, larynx, nose, sinuses and mouth. Oral cancer is the most common type of head and neck cancer.
Artist Michael Rees shares unique outlook on facing throat cancer
The two main risk factors for this group of diseases include the following:
- Tobacco use. This is the single largest risk factor for head and neck cancer with researchers estimating that 70 to 80 percent of head and neck cancers being linked to tobacco use. Also worthy of note is that secondhand smoke may increase a person’s risk of developing head and neck cancer.
- Alcohol use. Using alcohol and tobacco together increases your risk even more.
“Head and neck cancer patients, we know that tobacco smoking is a risk but also heavy alcohol use,” Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist specializing in head and neck cancer at Cleveland Clinic, previously told SurvivorNet.
“So, drinking more than two or three drinks if you’re a man per day, in addition to smoking. Smoking and alcohol are sort of additive carcinogens. Especially in cancer of the larynx or the voice box, we know that drinking heavily, heavy alcohol use, is just as important of a risk factor as tobacco smoking is.”
The Connection Between Head & Neck Cancers and HPV
It’s much more common to know someone who has a head or neck cancer now-a-days than it was several decades ago. And that’s because of its strong connection to HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States.
“From the 1980s to the 2010s, the rate of HPV-related head and neck cancers has gone up by 300 percent,” Dr. Ted Teknos, a head and neck cancer specialist, and president and scientific director of University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio, told SurvivorNet during a previous interview.
“That is entirely due to the HPV infection, in the throats of patients who have been exposed to HPV. So there is no myth … HPV causes throat cancer and it’s a sexually transmitted disease. And it’s something that is an epidemic in the United States.”
Understanding HPV and Cancer Risk
Meanwhile, Dr. Allen Ho, a head and neck surgeon at Cedars-Sinai, says the vast majority of humans in the United States — both men and women — will eventually get infected with HPV.
Dr. Ho explained, “The important thing to know about HPV is that there are many different strains, and only a couple of them tend to be more cancer-inducing.
“Probably less than 1 percent of the population who get infected happen to have the cancer-causing virus that somehow their immune system fails to clear, and over 15 to 20 years it develops from a viral infection into a tumor, and a cancer.”
It’s unclear whether HPV alone is enough to trigger the changes in your cells that lead to throat or mouth cancer, or whether this happens in combination with other risk factors like smoking. Of course, some people who develop throat or mouth cancers have no known risk factors for the condition. Genetics can play a role in this cancer, too.
Why the HPV Vaccine is so Important in Preventing Cancer
The HPV Vaccine
Oral and throat cancers are unique in that they’re usually preventable with the HPV vaccine. And that’s why those eligible should get vaccinated against HPV, SurvivorNet experts say.
The vaccine is typically given to children before they are sexually active, as HPV is transmitted through sexual contact.
And contrary to some detrimental misinformation circulated online, the HPV vaccine is entirely safe.
There are virtually no side effects with this vaccine, Dr. Jonathan Berek, director of the Women’s Cancer Center at Stanford Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
It is “incredibly safe,” he insisted. “It’s as safe as any vaccine has ever been. It’s highly-effective. It’s highly-predictive.”
Dr. Berek continued, “Some people say they’re concerned about it because they’re — they’ve called it a sex vaccine, that somehow it’s gonna encourage people to be sexually active. First of all, that’s not true. It’s, it’s an anti-cancer vaccine. And second of all, there are no data to support that contention.
“There are absolutely none. So it’s really based on fear, misinformation, disinformation … it’s not based on science or data. The science is very clear. It’s a highly-effective, safe vaccine, and should be promoted. And in those countries now where it has been promoted, we’re starting to see substantial reductions in the precancerous and early cancers of the cervix.”
HPV is responsible for 34,800 cases of cancer in the U.S. each year, but 90% of them can be prevented thanks to the HPV vaccine Gardasil.
Talking to Children About Cancer With Honesty & Empathy
When a parent receives a cancer diagnosis, one of the hardest conversations they may face is explaining it to their children. It’s a delicate balance—being honest about what’s ahead while protecting their emotional well-being.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, as widower John Duberstein shared in an interview with SurvivorNet. Before his wife Nina passed away from breast cancer, the couple made the intentional choice to talk openly with their children about her illness.
“I think it’s really important to be open with the kids as much as you can, as much as you feel like they can handle,” Duberstein said.
Talking to Kids About Cancer: Be Open as Much as You Can
As Nina’s appearance began to change—looking less like someone undergoing treatment—their children started to form hopeful assumptions. Duberstein and Nina realized they needed to gently correct those narratives, reminding their kids that the cancer hadn’t gone away.
“It was hard for them to hear, even though they’d already been prepared,” he reflected.
For parents feeling anxious about initiating these conversations, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin offers a grounding reminder: children are incredibly perceptive. They often pick up on the emotional cues adults carry.
“If you’re feeling scared, it might help to calm and soothe yourself first before speaking to your child,” Strongin advised. “These conversations can stir up deep emotions. There’s nothing wrong with showing those feelings—as long as we stay calm and offer a sense of safety.”
Creating that sense of safety can also mean equipping children with tools to manage their own emotions. Strongin recommends drawing from your own childhood experiences to connect.
“I love using my childhood self when explaining things to kids,” she said. “I might say, ‘When I was your age, I remember feeling scared of many things. One thing that helped was taking three deep breaths and telling my body it would be okay.’”
These kinds of gentle, relatable dialogues help children feel more secure—and give them a sense of control in an uncertain time.
Telling Your Kids You Have Cancer ‘When it Comes to Your Kids, You Want to Protect Them’
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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