Actor Val Kilmer, 63, encourages his followers to surround themselves with happiness. The positive emotion helped the “Top Gun” actor with his battle with throat cancer.
Kilmer dealt with throat cancer nearly a decade ago after discovering a lump in his throat. His recovery was grueling and impacted his ability to speak. As a treatment, Kilmer underwent chemotherapy and a tracheotomy procedure.
Kilmer used art to help him communicate and cope during his cancer journey. His messages are often filled with positive and happy messages.
Turning to art, such as music, painting, or dancing, may be therapeutic for cancer patients, aiding their recovery. Research involving cancer patients who used art to cope showed they may experience “decreased depression, anxiety, drowsiness, and tiredness.”
Staying positive during cancer treatment can help you achieve better health outcomes, according to SurvivorNet experts. So, it’s essential to prioritize your mental health, whether that means continuing to work, taking up a new hobby, or making time for friends.
“Top Gun” actor Val Kilmer, 63, encourages his supporters to surround themselves with happiness heading into the new year. Emotional happiness goes a long way in maintaining your mental health, as the famous actor tapped into these emotions through art to cope with throat cancer. For cancer patients, a key takeaway is by prioritizing your happiness and emotional well-being, you’re more likely to cope better throughout your journey.
“Surround yourself with things that make you happy,” Kilmer said in an Instagram post.
Kilmer often provides messages of happiness and positivity through his abundant artwork. The actor says that turning to making art while battling throat cancer will help him cope. Resorting to things that bring happiness and positive emotions, such as art, music, painting, or dancing, may all be therapeutic for cancer patients. Research involving cancer patients who used art to cope showed they may experience “decreased depression, anxiety, drowsiness, and tiredness.”
Helping Patients Maintain Positive Emotions and Mental Health
Val Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014. In an interview with The New York Times, Kilmer did not immediately see his doctor for symptoms associated with his throat cancer.
He told the outlet he felt a “big lump in his throat” in 2014. After waking up in a “pool of his own blood,” he was convinced to see his doctor, who confirmed his cancer diagnosis.
Throat cancer is cancer that develops in your throat or voice box.
“[Throat] cancer 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,” Dr. Ryan Hughes, a radiation oncologist at Wake Forest School of Medicine, told SurvivorNet.
“In the majority of patients, [throat cancer] does not cause symptoms in the throat but instead first presents with an otherwise asymptomatic mass in the neck,” Dr. Hughes added.
According to the National Cancer Institute, head and neck cancers makeup nearly “4 percent” of all cancers in the U.S. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for head and neck cancers as well as alcohol consumption. Common symptoms of throat cancer include experiencing pain while swallowing and ringing in the ears.
WATCH: What to Know About HPV and the Vaccine.
“Because of the radiation and chemotherapy interventions, my voice and throat were severely damaged. It isn’t easy to talk and be understood,” Kilmer said.
American actors Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise on the set of Top Gun, directed by Tony Scott. (Photo by Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
The famous actor underwent chemotherapy to help treat the cancer. He also underwent a tracheotomy procedure, which had an impact on his ability to speak. This procedure connects the windpipe to a hole in the front of your neck.
Focusing on the Positive Amid Cancer
Jensen’s recurring social media updates on his cancer journey are often optimistic. Supportive fans have picked up on the actor’s optimism.
Dr. Zuri Murrell of Cedars-Sinai says this helps a cancer patient’s prognosis.
“A positive attitude is really important,” Dr. Murrell previously told SurvivorNet.
“My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they’re diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK. Now, doesn’t that mean I’m good at saying that the cancer won’t grow,” Dr. Murrell says.
Other experts at SurvivorNet have recommended that anyone facing cancer make sure they continue to prioritize their overall well-being and do the things that they love.
Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecological oncologist at Arizona Center for Cancer Care, says people with cancer should be making time to do things that make them happy.
“We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,” Chase said.
