Val Kilmer ignored these symptoms of throat cancer in the years before his death
Key Takeaways
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“I’ve seen patients misdiagnosed with an ear infection, and they’ve been treated for weeks, even months, for an ear infection, when, in fact, it was really throat cancer.” — Tonia L. Farmer, MD @drnosebest
"Your body just gets weaker, and I think your body just cannot fight as much off. We deal with some cancers, and sometimes these infections become overwhelming." — Dr. Robert Alter, division chief of head and neck oncology at Hackensack Meridian's John Theurer Cancer Center, NBC News
Actor Val Kilmer died of pneumonia earlier this month, but he had been receiving treatment for throat cancer in the years preceding his death—something he only received a diagnosis and treatment for once his symptoms became severe.[]
It was reported that back in 2014, the actor noticed initial symptoms, including losing his voice, feeling a lump in his throat, and having difficulty swallowing, but it wasn’t until he started vomiting blood the following year that he was hospitalized and ultimately diagnosed with throat cancer.[]
As in Kilmer’s case, patients and clinicians may initially overlook throat cancer symptoms, assuming allergies or the common cold. However, a timely diagnosis and treatment can potentially make the difference between surviving and thriving.
April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, so let’s take a closer look at potential symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored, and how to best support patients to reduce their risk.
Related: Can engaging in oral sex increase your risk of head and neck cancer?Symptoms to monitor
Throat cancer symptoms can be tricky because they may appear very similar to common illnesses and allergies, such as a sore throat or earache, according to the Cleveland Clinic.[] This can make it easy to delay seeing a healthcare provider.
According to the Mayo Clinic, these symptoms may include:[]
Cough
Ear pain
Changes in voice
Difficulty swallowing
Lump in throat
Sore throat
Weight loss
Timing is everything
How can we tell the difference between a common illness and throat cancer? Timing is key when determining whether symptoms may indicate a malignancy. For one thing, symptoms of untreated throat cancer won’t improve without treatment.[]
A 2-week rule can help distinguish symptoms that may be throat cancer. At this point, patients could be referred to an ENT specialist for evaluation.
When symptoms persist, escalation to a specialist can help avoid misdiagnoses. Board-certified ear, nose, and throat surgeon Tonia L. Farmer, MD, says in an Instagram video, “I’ve seen patients misdiagnosed with an ear infection when they’ve been treated for weeks, even months, for an ear infection, when in fact, it was really throat cancer.”
Reducing risk
While throat cancer isn’t entirely preventable, patients can take steps to reduce their risk. These include:
Not smoking: Tobacco use is the single largest risk factor for throat cancer
Protecting from HPV infection: HPV is the most common cause of new throat cancer cases in developed countries
Eating a healthy diet: Not eating enough fruits and vegetables can increase a patient’s risk
While Kilmer announced he was cancer-free in 2021, physicians speculate the years of cancer treatment he received played a part in Kilmer being unable to fend off the pneumonia infection that ultimately led to his death.
"The body's composition of all these different elements can be slowly torn down. And I think if you're nutritionally deficient, your body slows down," Dr. Robert Alter, division chief of head and neck oncology at Hackensack Meridian's John Theurer Cancer Center, said in a recent interview with NBC News.[] "Your body just gets weaker, and I think your body just cannot fight as much off. We deal with some cancers, and sometimes these infections become overwhelming."
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