Updated June 25th, 2020

Cancer Survivor Val Kilmer, 60, Says He’s Seeing And Feelings Things Like Never Before — He Hopes New Memoir Provides Comfort During Coronavirus

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Val Kilmer wants to take fans on a wild journey of his life. The brave throat cancer survivor is living his life to the fullest and he says, now, during the coronavirus pandemic, is the time to share it all with the world.

Kilmer, best known for his roles as Iceman in “Top Gun” and Bruce Wayne in “Batman Forever,” announced his new memoir I’m Your Huckleberry, which will be released on April 21st. The title is a nod to Kilmer’s famous line as Doc Holliday in “Tombstone,” and the project features personal anecdotes, poetry, rare photographs, and more.

The 60-year old actor, and 80’s heartthrob, put his impressive acting career on hold during a battle with throat cancer in 2016. However, after undergoing a tracheostomy, he embraced new passions such as writing and painting, making him a triple threat. Seeing as Kilmer has experienced uncertainty firsthand, he says the memoir is meant to let readers escape into his own personal world.

“They say when one of your five senses is compromised, you can feel the others become heightened,” Kilmer wrote. “My speech was compromised, a few years back, but I now see and feel things I had never seen or felt before.”

Related: Val Kilmer's Amazing Year

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Val Kilmer’s Battle With Throat Cancer

While Kilmer might be addressing his battle with cancer now, that wasn’t always the case. Despite fans’ speculation that the actor was battling cancer, Kilmer denied the rumors initially. In 2017, he eventually broke the news during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, stating that he did have trachea surgery due to throat cancer.

However, Kilmer’s battle with cancer didn’t stop his creative expression. The actor embraced painting and writing after treatment, which is common with many cancer survivors. During recovery, he exhibited his art in galleries spanning from New York to California, and has used his platform to spotlight fellow artists.

Art therapy is a common technique used by cancer survivors to cope after treatment. Marianne Cuozzo, a three time cancer survivor, told SurvivorNet that she turns to art in her most difficult times. Clearly, she and Kilmer have that in common.

Tracheostomy And Throat Cancer

A tracheostomy is a surgery which connects the windpipe to a hole in the front of the neck. The procedure is done in cases of throat cancer, throat paralysis, or for obstructed breathing, allowing the patient to breathe by letting air in and out of the lungs through the neck hole. Tracheostomies may be removed once the patient can breathe on their own, but if the entire voice box was removed during surgery, then the tracheostomy will be needed permanently.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol and cigarettes are the main factors in developing throat cancer. However, the American Cancer Society reports that throat cancer cases have dropped up to 3% each year.

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