Some Very Non Hallmark Days For “Believe In Christmas” Actor John Reardon, 49; His Three Kids Got Him Through Tonsil Cancer

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“It has fast become my favorite photo of myself 🙂 Mostly because my son took it – but also because my smile is real.”

He continued, “This is one of the first photos of me after I had finished my treatment and now I am cancer free. I’m back to work, back to playing sports and most importantly back to making short films with my son.

“I feel limitless appreciation for all my family and friends. All my doctors and everyone who sent me well wishes and kindness.”

After insisting he’s “made of tough stuff,” Reardon admitted, “I’m a survivor because of my support network.”

He concluded, “Thank you to everyone who sent me stories of your own battles, or that of loved ones. Your courage is inspiring.

“Scars are inevitable but fortunately we don’t walk through life alone. We all breathe the same air and look up at the same stars so we’re connected and the trip is short. Here’s to long trips and big smiles for everyone.”

Reardon’s post prompted one of his fans to comment, “He definitely needs his own camera, another talent in the family. Beautiful words, it’s lonely when that support network is no longer around. Illness and the effects of isolation during the pandemic show us how important it is.”

Another fan kindly wrote, “Your son is really good with the camera, even though he’s only 7 years old. You have every reason to love this photo! It shows a happy father, proud of his son with the most genuine smile on his face – the one for his child! That smile is also an expression of the joy of winning the battle with cancer!

“The road was not easy for you or your family! But you were not alone in this! You had the support of all of them, you were strong, you didn’t give up and won this most important battle in your life! You won not only for yourself, but also for them – children, wife, parents, sister, brother, in-laws! For your friends, but also for your many fans!”

“Your son sure did take a beautiful picture of you John let your smile change the world, but don’t let the world change your smile You have a beautiful smile and God bless you,” commented a third fan.

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Understanding John Reardon’s Tonsil Cancer Fight

John Reardon wrote about his cancer journey in a 2024 Christmas Eve post, “Last night was my first night out after my recovery from tonsil cancer. Has been a long road between these two pictures and the difference is from the love and support I received from my people in my life. My amazing partner @officialmeghanory for taking on our whole world to help me get better.”

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He continued, “My brave kids who inspired me. My Dad who took me for a walk everyday even when it was hard for me to get out of bed – and I’m sure hard for him to see his son in pain. My Mom @ocean__cottage who made me soups and ginger honey tea and green juices so I could get calories into my body. My sister and brother @dr_laura_reardon @marcreardon81 who helped with the kids and the challenges of life when I couldn’t.

“All my in-laws, who are not just in-laws they are family, who brought food and cookies and talked through challenges with us. Our nanny, our neighbors and everyone who sent food or love and support or messages and kind words and also all the amazing doctors, nurses, technicians, hospital workers, psychologists you are all my heroes and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

“Kindness is an under appreciated quality in people. We should never under value it. Celebrate it and distribute it as much as possible. It is free and life changing. Happy Holidays,” Reardon concluded.

Then on February 5, he shared that he beat tonsil cancer, sharing a video clip on Instagram, and writing alongside it, “I am happy to say though that I am cancer free and have been cleared to go back to work in full capacity!

“Feeling strong and very appreciative. I am overwhelmed by the response I’ve had from fans around the world saying how important the show [Hudson & Rex] is to them and the well wishes.”

Five days later, him and his wife TV and film actress wife Meghan Ory, 42, announced they were crated a new YouTube channel.

Hallmark Star John Reardon, 49, Who Beat Tonsil Cancer, Is Starting a YouTube Channel With His Wife: ‘Ever Since I Was a Kid I’ve Wanted To Tell Stories’

The show will feature the loving couple’s “new venture” of renovating their 120-year-old house. Reardon and Ory, who share three children together, said this new show was put into place as they “wanted to do something that could hopefully bring some laughs and joy into your homes, after you brought so much joy into ours.”

We’re happy to see Reardon, known for his roles in the Hallmark films, “Believe in Christmas,” “The Christmas Secret,” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” thriving after revealing he was cancer-free early this month and “cleared to work.”

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Reardon explained, while announcing his new YouTube channel, “Ever since I was a kid I’ve wanted to tell stories. I’ve played a lot of different characters in my career – people who know what they are doing but I’m not sure that is always the case with me personally.

“So in the spirit of this @officialmeghanory and I started our YouTube channel @iplayoneontvtv we’ve always wanted a place where we can create some of our own stories and hopefully people will enjoy.”

Coping With a Diagnosis & The Power of Support

Coping with a diagnosis involves a range of emotions from anger to sadness and everything in between. Sarah Stapleton, a licensed clinical social worker, encourages cancer warriors and their families to be “patient with your emotions.”

It’s also important that you understand how you communicate with your providers, but also with your loved ones,” Stapleton said. “We can’t always assume that people know what we need at a given time, and there are going to be times when you don’t want to speak about your diagnosis and you don’t want to speak about cancer.

Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik previously explained to SurvivorNet some tips for cancer warriors and their caregivers for managing emotions after a diagnosis. She emphasized getting extra support from loved ones.

“Some people don’t need to go outside of their family and friend circle. They feel like they have enough support there,” Dr. Plutchik said. “But for people who feel like they need a little bit more, it is important to reach out to a mental health professional.”

“Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis of the cancer in social situations,” Dr. Plutchik added. “How much information they should share and with whom they should share the information, everybody is different.”

Ultimately it comes down to what feels right. Loved ones supporting a cancer warrior are encouraged to respect the wishes of the cancer patient when it comes to disclosing their diagnosis.

WATCH: Seeking support after a diagnosis.

Sometimes young family members such as children can be incredible motivators for cancer warriors to keep fighting especially when times get tough. Facing cancer as a parent can be daunting. Fearful thoughts about leaving your children may creep into your mind and add even more to your overflowing plate.

“Cancer patients with children can have increased motivation to endure difficult treatment but may also be concerned about the emotional impact of the illness on their offspring,” Dr. Cindy Moore of Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center previously explained to The ASCO Post, an oncology newspaper.

The Benefit of Support Networks for Cancer Patients

During the difficult moments of explaining cancer to younger children, Dr. Moore recommends cancer patients should discuss some of their biggest concerns with their healthcare teams.

With the help of your healthcare team, you can come up with an effective communication plan to explain your diagnosis to your kids at an age-appropriate level.

It’s only natural for health challenges to have some sort of effect on one’s mental health. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik previously told SurvivorNet that emotions will be fluid when facing a diagnosis. SurvivorNet has some tips to help keep your mental and emotional health in a good space if you find yourself coping with a stressful situation.

The National Institute of Mental Health advises to seek professional help if you are experiencing severe or distressing symptoms that have lasted two weeks or more, such as:

• Trouble sleeping
• Changes in appetite
• Struggling to leave bed in the morning because of your mood
• Trouble concentrating
• Loss of interest in things you usually enjoy
• Inability to perform normal daily functions and responsibilities

Equally as important is recognizing the value of self-care. The National Institute of Mental Health offers practical guidance on how to boost your weekly self-care routine.

• Regularly exercising
• Eating healthy, regular meals
• Staying hydrated
• Prioritizing sleep
• Exploring relaxation programs or techniques
• Setting goals/priorities
• Staying positive
• Connecting with others

Coping with Intense Feelings

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.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

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