Val Kilmer's Throat Cancer Journey
- Actor Val Kilmer, who beat throat cancer and continues to create vibrant abstract art, recently shared a throwback video clip of himself putting on a batman mask and allowing fans to hear his voice, years after undergoing a tracheostomy (or tracheotomy), a surgical procedure that connects the windpipe to a hole in the front of the neck.
- Kilmer, known for his memorable role in the film “Top Gun,” was diagnosed with throat cancer back in 2014. He had a tracheotomy and also underwent chemotherapy to treat his disease. The actor ultimately lost his voice to the disease and has since turned to artwork as another way to express himself.
- Throat cancer is a type of head and neck cancer where cancerous cells begin in the throat, voice box, or tonsils.
- There’s no annual screening for throat cancer like there is for other more common cancers. Instead, doctors usually find throat cancers when a patient comes in with symptoms that may point to it. Some symptoms include: cough, changes in your voice, difficulty swallowing, ear pain, a sore throat, or a lump that doesn’t heal. Don’t delay seeing a doctor if something seems amiss and your symptoms are not going away.
The footage, which showed Kilmer sitting comfortably alongside Choe, offers fans some insight into how his voice has changed since undergoing a tracheostomy (or tracheotomy), a surgical procedure that connects the windpipe to a hole in the front of the neck. The procedure greatly impacted his speaking voice, but we’re delighted to Kilmer speaking with confidence.
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Before Kilmer places the batman mask on his head, which seemed to fit perfectly, his breathing is heard before saying, “I’m ready.”
In a more recent post, Kilmer, who has taken to his creativity after his cancer diagnosis, shared one of his new abstract pieces, which is up for sale on his website.
He wrote next to his artwork, which featured hues of purple, pink, and blue, “Some art hums like a power chord—loud, untamed, and unforgettable.
“If this one strikes the right note for you, grab one of the 10 available. Link in bio!”
His work, an abstract print glazed with plexiglass, is titled “Abstract Print #1 [Series 10].”
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The abstract, which also features Kilmer’s signature on the front, is being sold for $500.
“This is the first of this new series [Series 10] of limited edition abstract prints,” the product description reads. These prints glazed with plexiglass, signed on the surface of the plexiglass.”
It adds, “Rear mounted cleat for hanging included. Signature will vary from representative image.”
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 children, Mercedes and Jack, whom he had with his ex-wife, English actress Joanne Whalley.
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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.”
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“I have been healed of cancer for over four years now, and there has never been any recurrence,” he wrote. “I am so grateful.”
What Life May Look Like After Treatment
If patients have not experienced too many complications from their chemotherapy, “they are often able to go back to many of the same things that they did before they had their diagnosis of cancer and are able to live full and complete lives,” Dr. Michael Jain, medical oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview
Making a Survivorship Care Plan
So what comes after successful treatment? “At that point we often focus on the survivorship issues that they may have, preventing second cancers, and properly following them,” Dr. Jain explains.
A survivorship plan will include a schedule for follow-up exams and tests, plus a schedule for tests to check for any long-term health impacts from your cancer or treatment, and screening for any new cancers.
Your doctor will likely tell you what to look out for in terms of side effects that could show up late or over the long term. Your care team will provide you with diet and physical activity recommendations as part of your survivorship plan.
Moving On From Treatment
It’s natural to feel continuing mental health effects, such as depression and anxiety, even after your treatment ends. This is where you can benefit from a supportive community. Look to strengthen your relationships with friends and family, faith groups, support groups, and mental health professionals to buoy you as you move on from treatment.
In addition to caring for their mental health, people who finish treatment and are in complete remission will want to move on from cancer with a physically healthy lifestyle. Eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, staying at a healthy weight, and not smoking are all lifestyle practices that generally contribute to a healthy quality of life.
Indeed, cancer and its treatment might naturally point survivors in the direction of such practices. “Mostly [we’re] trying to maximize the quality of life that people have, because once you have a cancer diagnosis, I think it is an important time in someone’s life where they can take stock and really understand what’s important,” Dr. Jain adds.
There’s Life After Cancer
We admire Kilmer for never having allowed his cancer diagnosis to stop him from doing what he loves, including creating art and looking back on past films he acted in.
Sometimes it can be hard for cancer patients to see the light at the end of the tunnel especially after being hit with a diagnosis. However, SurvivorNet has shared thousands of stories from cancer warriors that prove everyday challenges tend to improve over time. With the support of loved ones that make up your support group, you too can find a way to navigate your emotions.
Your support group also helps motivate you while undergoing the rigors of cancer treatment. While every cancer warrior’s journey is unique, one thing is certain, you are more than your diagnosis.
Kilmer and many other cancer survivors continue to demonstrate there’s life after cancer every day by focusing on what brings them joy, happiness, and gratitude.
WATCH: Living In Gratitude
Gratitude means being thankful for what you have and showing appreciation for it. It’s a mindset that helps people going through tough times, and the experts SurvivorNet spoke with encourage cancer warriors and their loved ones to practice gratitude.
Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal cancer surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told SurvivorNet that his patients who live with gratitude tend to handle treatment better because this attitude is one way to stay mentally healthy.
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.
Get the Facts: HPV Can Cause Cancer In Men Too
“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
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
