How Cancer Survivors Use Art As Therapy
- Throat cancer survivor Val Kilmer, 64, is promoting his most recent artwork, something his expressed brings him “unique joy,” which he is selling on his website ValKilmer.com, and promoting on social media.
- Kilmer, who starred in the patriotic film “Top Gun,” which recently celebrated 38 years since its release, 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.
As patriotic celebrations will take place across the U.S. later this week in honor of the Fourth of July, we're admiring "Top Gun" star and throat cancer survivor Val Kilmer, 64, for his newest vibrant artwork, which he's admitted brings him "unique joy." Kilmer, known for his role as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky in the 1986 action drama film "Top Gun," which celebrates American fighter pilots who put their lives at risk for the country, is certainly well acquainted with the arts—and he recently took to social media to share an impressive abstract print, featuring a wide array of blue and green hues.
Kilmer captioned his
post , "There's a unique joy in transforming raw materials and imagination into something tangible. The process is rewarding in and of itself, but at the end, I do love having an object in my hand that I made - that I grew from gathered materials, practice, and my own imagination. "So here's the third abstract in this series. It reflects summer’s lush scenery and vibrant hues, bringing an energetic bloom to your room!" He continued, "Each print is mounted and glazed with plexiglass, complete with a mounting feature on the back. I've personally signed each of the ten prints at
ValKilmer.Com ." His artwork, which is a print glazed with plexiglass, is dubbed "Abstract Print #3 [Series 8]" on his
website , is listed for sale at $500. The stunning artwork is also signed on the front by Kilmer himself and is sized at 12 inches by 20 inches. It's an edition of 10 and is "the third of this new series [Series 8] of limited edition abstract prints," his website notes, adding, "These prints glazed with plexiglass, signed on the surface of the plexiglass. There will be four images in this series.Rear mounted cleat for hanging included." Kilmer's artwork was praised by fans, with one commenting, "You've outdone yourself val! In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: 'Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting.'"
Another fan wrote, "This one really mirrors how I’m feeling- the green of summer and bright energy returning emotionally. Really beautiful Val!!!" "It's a representation of the flame of life. Absolutely stunning," a third chimed in. It's great to see Kilmer continuing to pain after overcoming adversity, and sharing his creations through Kamp Kilmer, which he describes on his website as "a destination where creative beings gather to express themselves in exciting and innovative ways while contributing to the evolution of the arts through technology and connectivity." "A living, breathing virtual space with boundless possibilities where a community of eclectics and artists can thrive without limitations of space and time. A decentralized hub where we come together to share ideas and collaborate on art, film, music, and literary projects," he added. In the "About Me" section on his website, he describes him self as having been "have been honing my art, no matter the medium" for more than 50 years.
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.
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.”
Art Through Cancer
Alongside treatment or after beating cancer some people may turn to various artistic outlets (i.e. singing, dancing, painting, crafting) to help them cope with their cancer journey.
RELATED: How I Made It Through Cancer: Painting & Dreaming Some people also use art to handle feelings of grief after suffering a cancer-related loss. Whenever and however you turn to art, its
healing benefits in terms of mental health are well-documented and substantiated. In fact, Very Well Mind reports that a 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Art Therapy Association says that
less than an hour of creative activity can reduce stress and have a positive effect on your mental health. And that’s true regardless of artistic experience or talent, the author notes. Meanwhile, Marianne Cuozzo, a three-time cancer survivor, can also attest to the power of art. And despite the fact that cancer has essentially been her whole life, Cuozzo has recognized herself as a lot more than a diagnosis by focusing on her life as a mother and an artist.
Three-Time Cancer survivor Marianna Cuozzo On How Art Helps Her Express Herself Cuozzo was first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1994 at the age of 28. In 1997, she had a recurrence, and then she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014. She had a double mastectomy and originally got implants with reconstruction. But after years of infections, she decided to remove her implants and “go flat.” Her artwork reflects a deeply personal exploration of body image and sexuality. In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Cuozzo tells us how she found comfort expressing herself through her work.
RELATED: Watch this Inspiring Film About the Impact Art & Music Can Have on the Cancer Journey “My artwork is very reflective of my cancer journey,” Cuozzo says. “I’m doing the best I can to feel beautiful in this new body.”
Do What You Love During & After Cancer
During cancer treatment, and also after, it can be hard to focus on anything except your treatment or the challenges that follow a cancer battle. However, Kilmer is a wonderful example that it's important to take a moment and
focus on something that makes you genuinely happy. Experts recommend you try to take some time out of your day a few times a week and really enjoy those special pockets of joy. “We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,”
Dr. Dana Chase , a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, previously told SurvivorNet. “So working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment [and] your emotional well-being are important and can impact your survival. If that’s related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities.”
Learning How To Overcome Adversity Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff 
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