Actor and Throat Cancer Survivor, Val Kilmer, Is Sharing His Art With The World To Give Fans “Comfort”

The usually elusive Kilmer has been in the spotlight recently to celebrate his debut memoir I’m Your Huckleberry, where he discusses his battle with cancer for the first time. In fact, he initially denied rumors when fans speculated that he was battling cancer, but now he is telling his own story in his own words.

Releasing a memoir isn’t the only way Kilmer is breaking out of his comfort zone. On Instagram, he announced that he’s sharing his art projects with the public, which range from tote bags to coffee mugs with the world for fans to enjoy. For Kilmer fans, this is quite an exciting opportunity, seeing as many of the pieces are a nod to his previous acting roles.

“I’d like to let you in, in hopes you find something that helps you feel joy and comfort,” Kilmer wrote.

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Cancer Patients Embracing Art During Treatment

Embracing art during cancer treatment is a common theme among many patients. Three-time cancer survivor, Marianne Cuozzo, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 1994 at age 28 and experienced a reoccurrence in 1997. In 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy for treatment. While battling cancer for nearly a decade, Cuozzo told SurvivorNet that she was able to cope during treatment by embracing her creative side.

“I’d go in the studio, and I had these huge pieces of charcoal,” Cuozzo tells SurvivorNet. “And I would do these really angry charcoal drawings, and I’d roll them up and stuff them under the couch. No one was meant to see them because it was just for me and, my cathartic getting out my anger…My artwork is very reflective of my cancer journey.”

Cancer survivor Marianna Cuozzo talks to SurvivorNet about how art helps her express herself

Painting and drawing aren’t the only artistic outlets cancer patients explore. Take liver and pancreatic cancer survivor Joel Naftelberg as an example. Naftelberg had been a musician prior to his diagnosis, but instead of taking a break from his passion, Naftelberg decided to continue practicing during treatment.

“I have found music and rock and roll to be transformational,” Naftelberg tells SurvivorNet. “Doesn’t necessarily solve anything, but it does let us dance on our problems for at least an hour or two.”

Joel Naftelberg on dancing and grooving during cancer treatment

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