In his new memoir, actor Val Kilmer, 60, is finally opening up about his battle with throat cancer, and the struggles of going from iconic Hollywood actor to cancer survivor.
Kilmer’s memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, is a glimpse into the Top Gun star’s life of acting, relationships, and his battle with throat cancer. Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015, but has been relatively quiet about his diagnosis and treatment. Now, Kilmer is putting pen to paper and telling his story head on.
Read MoreVal Kilmer’s Battle With Throat Cancer And Tracheostomy
Kilmer initially denied speculations that he was battling throat cancer until 2017, when he broke the news during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. He underwent a tracheostomy, which is a surgery that connects the windpipe to a hole in the front of the neck. The procedure is done when patients have obstructed breathing, throat cancer, or throat paralysis. Tracheostomies can be removed once a patient is able to breathe on their own, but in cases where the entire voice box is removed, the tracheostomy will be required permanently.
Since his diagnosis, Kilmer has embraced other creative outlets such as painting and writing. Over the past few years, he has exhibited in galleries in New York and Los Angeles, but his new memoir might be his his most vulnerable project yet.
Art Therapy During Cancer Treatment
Turning to the arts is common for many cancer survivors, and art therapy is sometimes used for patients to cope with a diagnosis and treatment. Joel Naftelberg, a liver and pancreatic cancer survivor, spoke to SurvivorNet about how turning to music helped him through his treatment.
“I have found music and rock and roll to be transformational,” Naftelberg says. “It doesn’t necessarily solve anything, but it does let us dance on our problems for at least an hour or two.”
Survivor Joel Naftelberg on turning to music during cancer diagnosis and treatment
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.