Healing Through Art
- “Top Gun” legend Val Kilmer, 64, who battled throat cancer in 2015 and now spends his free time creating art, has revealed some of his “personal” and “unique” memorabilia is now up for auction.
- Throat cancer is cancer that develops in your throat or voice box. It 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.
- Going through a major life change, like battling throat cancer, often inspires people to take on a greater calling, as people fighting the disease will typically experience every human emotion possible to feel.
- Finding ways to give back can be an important part of your own healing journey, just as Kilmer is doing so by auction off his “personal” items.
Kilmer, known for acting as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the 1986 action drama film “Top Gun,” took to his Instagram story this week too announce a number of his personal items are being auctioned off on in just a matter of days.
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The auction page, titled “Premium Auction 71,” states, “We are pleased to invite you to begin your viewing of Premium Auction 71.
“This is a specially curated collection of some of the best in autographed collectibles and screen used items around. Featuring an array of items from Val Kilmer’s personal collection, such as Val’s personal art, screen used wardrobe, and unique memorabilia from his storied career.”
Celebrity Authentic Auctions explains further, “There is also an amazing collection of screen used items from Hugh Jackman, Mila Jovovich, Evangeline Lilly and more!
“As always you will find a blockbuster selection of autographed prop replicas, posters, pops, CGC comics and much more. Advance bidding is now open and join us for live bidding on Saturday, August 3rd at 1pm EST..”
Some of the “Top Gun” items up for sale include a “Val Kilmer Autographed 2022 Top Gun Maverick Production Used Original Seat Back” starting at $510 and a “Val Kilmer Autographed Top Gun Maverick Tom Cruise Recollections 11×14 Framed Photo” starting at a bid of only $65.
Additionally, an autographed “Top Gun” and “Maverick 2” Movie 4K Ultra HD Steelbook Superfan Collection and an autographed “Top Gun” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack LP are also up for auction.
Aside from those “Top Gun” memorabilia, Kilmer is auctioning off 88 other items, including an autographed plush batman figure, an autographed “Citizen Twain” 9×6 Promotional Card, as well as a hat, shirt, and vest worn by Kilmer in 1996 film “The Ghost and the Darkness.”
Kilmer is also selling some of his most recent artwork in the auction, including a print he created of iconic dentist and gunfighter Doc Holliday, something he also recently took to social media to promote.
Writing alongside his recent Instagram post, featuring the colorful artwork, Kilmer wrote, “I understand that there’s been a chorus of people that are really drawn to the Doc Holliday character and the artwork inspired by him. I’ve transformed Doc into beautiful prints, each hand-signed by me.
“With only 25 available, these limited editions are a true collector’s dream.
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He added, “If you’ve been waiting for the perfect piece to add to your collection, this is it. You said ‘Say when,’ and I heard you. My answer is, ‘How about now?’ As always, the link is in my bio for ValKilmer.com.”
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 adult children, Mercedes and Jack, whom he had with his ex-wife, English actress Joanne Whalley.
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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.”
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“I have been healed of cancer for over four years now, and there has never been any recurrence,” he wrote. “I am so grateful.”
Spreading His Passion of Art
Going through a major life change like throat cancer, often inspires people to take on a greater calling, as people fighting the disease will typically tap into a wide array of emotions. Finding ways to give back can be a helpful part of your own healing, and it something Val Kilmer is able to do so through his love for art.
However, Kilmer isn’t the only cancer warrior who looked to art in, and after, dark moments of a health battle.
In addition to easing anxiety, creative outlets can also serve as a way for people to share everything they’re feeling in order to cope.
Dr. Dana Chase Encourages Those Facing Cancer To Find Moments Of Joy During Treatment
In Kilmer’s case, he has been expressing himself through art all his life. In a blog post on his website, Kilmer writes, “My name is Val Kilmer. I’m an artist. I’ve lived a magical life. For more than half a century, I have been honing my art, no matter the medium.
“Be it literature, movies, poetry, painting, music, or tracking exotic and beautiful wildlife in the most remote African bush, to capture ephemeral moments with a camera, I yearn to express my creative spirit.”
With the loss of Kilmer’s voice, he admitted that his “creative juices were boiling over and pouring out of me.”
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
- Get the Facts: What Do We Know About HPV-Linked Throat Cancer?
- Having Oral Sex With Multiple Partners Can Increase Risk for Throat Cancer, Says New Study
- 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?
He continued while introducing Kamp Kilmer (an art community), “I started creating again, painting, writing anything I could. I felt the art healing me. I wanted to share this with others, and I started looking for a place to do so. I found a large studio in Hollywood.
“A fun sacred space where artists, musicians, muses, collectors, and friends could gather to celebrate creativity – and then the unthinkable, a global pandemic that pushed us all into our homes. You can’t snuff out destiny. The story is far from over.”
Marianna Cuozzo Talks To SurvivorNet About How Art Helps Her Express Herself
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.
“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.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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