How Cancer Survivors Use Art As Therapy
- “Top Gun” star and throat cancer survivor Val Kilmer, 65, has embraced his passion for art after beating cancer and recently created a colorful print featuring the word “LOVE,” in hopes of spreading love amongst his fan base.
- Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer back in 2014. He had a tracheotomy and also underwent chemotherapy to treat his disease. He ultimately lost his voice to the disease and turned to art to express himself.
- Throat cancer is cancer that develops in your throat or voice box. It can cause symptoms in the throat including sore throat, pain with swallowing, difficulty swallowing, the sensation of a lump or mass in the throat, ear pain, and less commonly voice changes, hoarseness or difficulty opening the jaw.
- Going through a major life change, like battling throat cancer, often inspires people to take on a greater calling, as people fighting the disease will typically experience every human emotion possible to feel.
- Finding ways to give back can be an important part of your own healing journey, just as Kilmer is doing by creating art and selling his work on his website, for his fans to enjoy.
Kilmer took to his social media this week to share a high-quality print titled, “LOVE • For your VALentine #1,” featuring blue, purple, and yellow colors, something he’s selling on his website for $250.
Read MoreKilmer captioned his sweet Instagram post, “We’re all in need of a little love right now. No matter where you are (but particularly in Los Angeles) a gesture of love is always appreciated.View this post on Instagram
“So, here are two gestures of LOVE for the loves of your lives (even if one of those loves is yourself), newly minted prints of two of my LOVE paintings in time for Valentine’s day, or just because you want to let someone know how you feel.”
He concluded, “The Beatles were right. Love, Val.”
Kilmer’s fans were quick to praise his artwork, with one writing, “I totally agree and from you this is alot. This is so beautiful Val much love to you.”
“Yes indeed …The City of Angels is in need. We are all aching so thank you for sending your LOVE Val,” commented a second fan.
While a third wrote, “LOVE for all of us. One of these days I’ll be lucky enough to finally meet u and be blessed to own a beautiful piece of art made from [you]. That’s my dream.”
Expert Throat Cancer Resources
- Having Oral Sex With Multiple Partners Can Increase Risk for Throat Cancer, Says New Study
- Majority of Throat Cancer Diagnoses Are Caused by HPV – Here’s What You Need to Know
- Get the Facts: What Do We Know About HPV-Linked Throat Cancer?
- 7 Signs of Throat Cancer That Aren’t As Obvious as You’d Think; Knowing What to Look for Is Key
- Throat Cancer Is Increasing in the United States, New Research Suggests; Did You Know A Virus That Causes It Can Be Prevented With a Vaccine?
The product’s description on his website reads, “This year give some love to your love! Limited edition (Numbered 1-20) Giclée cold press print (LV0234).
“Signed on the front border by Val Kilmer. 12″ x 12″ including border. Image is 10.5″ x 10.5″. Ships rolled. Signature will vary from representative image.”
A note to buyers reads, “**Due to the nature of the original materials, the prints will represent the paintings which exhibit scratches, rust, oxidations, and/or uneven surfaces. These irregularities are all considered part of the artistic design by the artist and included in the unique wholeness of the art piece. Certificate of Authenticity included.”
The second print he’s selling, dubbed “LOVE • For your VALentine #2” is also listed for $250, but offers lighter colors, including a winter blue, with the word love in white.
Val Kilmer’s Battle With Throat Cancer
Val Kilmer discovered he had throat cancer in 2015 but chose not to speak publicly about his diagnosis until 2017.
The actor wasn’t considering conventional treatment at first, thinking his Christian Science faith would heal the tumors. But he ultimately agreed to undergo chemotherapy for the sake of his adult children, Mercedes and Jack, whom he had with his ex-wife, English actress Joanne Whalley.
View this post on Instagram
Kilmer also underwent a tracheotomy, a surgical procedure that connects the windpipe to a hole in the front of the neck, which greatly impacted his speaking voice.
Thankfully, Kilmer continued acting as “Top Gun: Maverick” filmmakers were able to help give Iceman a voice again thanks to artificial intelligence technology that used samples of him speaking to recreate his signature speech patterns.
And though he originally kept his cancer battle out of the public eye, Kilmer eventually shared more about his journey through interviews, his autobiography “I’m Your Huckleberry,” and his documentary, “Val.”
RELATED: Watch this Inspiring Film About the Impact Art & Music Can Have on the Cancer Journey
“I have been healed of cancer for over four years now, and there has never been any recurrence,” he wrote. “I am so grateful.”
Expert Throat Cancer Resources
- Having Oral Sex With Multiple Partners Can Increase Risk for Throat Cancer, Says New Study
- Majority of Throat Cancer Diagnoses Are Caused by HPV – Here’s What You Need to Know
- Get the Facts: What Do We Know About HPV-Linked Throat Cancer?
- 7 Signs of Throat Cancer That Aren’t As Obvious as You’d Think; Knowing What to Look for Is Key
- Throat Cancer Is Increasing in the United States, New Research Suggests; Did You Know A Virus That Causes It Can Be Prevented With a Vaccine?
Spreading His Passion of Art
Going through a major life change like throat cancer, often inspires people to take on a greater calling, as people fighting the disease will typically tap into a wide array of emotions. Finding ways to give back can be a helpful part of your own healing, and it something Val Kilmer is able to do so through his passion for art.
However, Kilmer isn’t the only cancer warrior who looked to art in, and after, dark moments of a health battle.
In addition to easing anxiety, creative outlets can also serve as a way for people to share everything they’re feeling in order to cope.
Dr. Dana Chase Encourages Those Facing Cancer To Find Moments Of Joy During Treatment
In Kilmer’s case, he has been expressing himself through art all his life. In a blog post on his website, Kilmer writes, “My name is Val Kilmer. I’m an artist. I’ve lived a magical life. For more than half a century, I have been honing my art, no matter the medium.
“Be it literature, movies, poetry, painting, music, or tracking exotic and beautiful wildlife in the most remote African bush, to capture ephemeral moments with a camera, I yearn to express my creative spirit.”
With the loss of Kilmer’s voice, he admitted that his “creative juices were boiling over and pouring out of me.”
He continued while introducing Kamp Kilmer (an art community), “I started creating again, painting, writing anything I could. I felt the art healing me. I wanted to share this with others, and I started looking for a place to do so. I found a large studio in Hollywood.
“A fun sacred space where artists, musicians, muses, collectors, and friends could gather to celebrate creativity – and then the unthinkable, a global pandemic that pushed us all into our homes. You can’t snuff out destiny. The story is far from over.”
Marianna Cuozzo Talks To SurvivorNet About How Art Helps Her Express Herself
Understanding Throat Cancer
Throat cancer is a type of head and neck cancer where cancerous cells begin in the throat, voice box or tonsils. Some of the main risk factors for this disease include smoking, drinking alcohol, a diet lacking in fruits or vegetables, acid reflux disease and the human papillomavirus (HPV).
So, one way to decrease the chances of developing the disease is to get the HPV vaccine.
The American Cancer Society recommends that boys and girls get the HPV vaccine between ages 9 and 12. The organization also stresses that teens and young adults through age 26 who are not already vaccinated should get the HPV vaccine as soon as possible.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, “About 85% of people will get an HPV infection in their lifetime. Vaccinating all 11–12-year-olds can protect them long before they are ever exposed. CDC recommends two doses of HPV vaccine for all adolescents at age 11 or 12 years.”
Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, explains the link between throat cancer and HPV in a previous interview with SurvivorNet.
“There are no screening guidelines to screen for throat cancer, unlike cervical cancer with pap smears. And there are no standard tests to determine if you harbor the (HPV) virus,” Dr. Geiger said.
“However, there is no concern that you’re going to spread this cancer to your partner or to anyone else, because at this point your partner has already been exposed to the virus and likely cleared it.”
There’s no yearly screening for throat cancer, so doctors often discover the disease when a patient sees them with symptoms that may point to it. Some symptoms include:
- A cough
- Changes in your voice
- Difficulty swallowing
- Ear pain
- A lump or sore that doesn’t heal
- A sore throat
- Weight loss
It’s important to note, however, that these symptoms are not exclusive to throat cancer. Still, you should always see a doctor if you have any changes to your health.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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