Val Kilmer's Throat Cancer Journey
- Throat cancer survivor Val Kilmer, 64, recently took to social media to share a memorable scene from the 1993 American Western film “Tombstone.”
- Kilmer, who impressed his fans with his whiskey cup-spinning skills in the film, many who think the actor should have won an Oscar for, understands all to well the importance of keeping dreams alive no matter what challenges arise, as he was was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014.
- He had a tracheotomy and also underwent chemotherapy to treat his disease. The actor lost his voice to the disease and since turned to artwork as a 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.
- Experts recommend those facing cancer should find activities that bring them joy; a positive attitude can really impact treatment outcomes.
Kilmer reshared a memorable scene from the film, which was directed by George P. Cosmatos and written by Kevin Jarre, on his Instagram story this week, from a post originally shared on the Funniest Media Clips Ever‘s Instagram page.
Read MoreThe scene features Kilmer’s character meeting John Ringo. And before the impressive cup-spinning scene, Doc Holiday is seen calling Ringo “the deadliest pistoleer since Wild Bill, they say.”View this post on Instagram
After Ringo suddenly pulls out his pistol and points it at Holiday, he then proceeds to spin the gun in an effort to show off his skills. However, when he finishes, Kilmer’s character instead spins his whiskey cup in an impressive manor.
One fan commented on the scene recap, “Great film. Kilmer should’ve won an Oscar,” while another wrote, “Should have won it for ‘The Doors.'”
A third fan of Kilmer’s added, “Great movie! Val Kilmer was great as Doc Holiday! One of my favorite scenes. The whole cast was really good.”
“One of the best performances of all time. Everyone knows it. Official awards or not,” a fourth fan wrote.
Others wrote, “Kilmer was perfect in this,” “How Val never got an award for that role is criminal,” and “I’m Your Huckleberry.”
Although Kilmer didn’t win an Oscar for that role, like a number of his fans would have liked, “Tombstone” ultimately landed an MTV Movie Award nomination in 1994 for “Best Male Performance” and “Most Desirable Male.”
The plot of “Tombstone” focused on Kurt Russell, portraying “Wyatt Earp” meeting his old friend “Doc Holliday,” a role played by Val Kilmer, in Tombstone, Arizona.
The film’s plot evolves into a good versus evil confrontation in the old West as a band of outlaws known to cause random acts of violence face off with Kilmer and Russell in an old-fashioned shoot-out.
Speaking to TrueWest Magazine in an earlier interview about the iconic cup-spinning scene, Kilmer said, “I was very concerned that the whole movie would be in trouble if I didn’t beat [John Ringo] in that moment.
“And so I said to Kevin [Jarre], ‘You know, what if this isn’t funny … who knows what it will look like, a little tin cup kind of swirling around in these fancy gun moves. What if it’s not funny?’ And he looked at me and said, ‘Yeah, I guess that’s a problem.’ So what I did was, for a couple of months, work the gun routine with both hands.”
He continued, “I basically taught myself to do all that stuff with the .45 with the right hand, and also with the left hand—I was doing it with the .38…and it’s really tough to do that stuff. Guns are heavy. And it’s also weird when you mess up, it’s like hitting yourself with a hammer.”
The magazine noted that in the “lightweight tin cup” Kilmer used in the film, “a weight was installed at the bottom to offset the balance and thus help in the twirling motion.”
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, 31, and Jack, 28, whom he had with his ex-wife, English actress Joanne Whalley, 62.
Expert Throat Cancer Resources
- 7 Signs of Throat Cancer That Aren’t As Obvious as You’d Think; Knowing What to Look for Is Key
- Having Oral Sex With Multiple Partners Can Increase Risk for Throat Cancer, Says New Study
- Get the Facts: HPV Can Cause Cancer in Men Too
- Majority of Throat Cancer Diagnoses Are Caused by HPV – Here’s What You Need to Know
- Throat Cancer Is Increasing in the United States, New Research Suggests; Did You Know A Virus That Causes It Can Be Prevented With a Vaccine?
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.”
RELATED: Watch this Inspiring Film About the Impact Art & Music Can Have on the Cancer Journey
“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.
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.
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.
HPV and Cancer Risk The Basics
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
