38 Years After ‘Top Gun,’ Actor and Cancer Survivor Val Kilmer is Thriving — Will There Be Another Sequel?

Overcoming Adversity Like Val Kilmer

• It’s been 38 years since the iconic 1980s film “Top Gun,” starring cancer survivor Val Kilmer alongside Tom Cruise, came out. Cruise marked the anniversary of the film in an Instagram post.
• Many years after his “Top Gun” days, in 2015, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer. He underwent a tracheotomy and chemotherapy to treat his diagnosis and has shared his gratitude after going through the challenge.
• The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for throat cancer.
• HPV is a group of more than 200 related viruses, some of which are spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex, according to the National Cancer Institute. It can cause a handful of cancers, including cervical and throat cancers.
• The HPV vaccine, like Gardasil 9, offers protection against “nine HPV types” and creates an immune response to HPV 16, the primary cause of 92% of head and neck cancers.

Thirty-eight years ago, Val Kilmer, 64, starred alongside Tom Cruise, 61, in the iconic film "Top Gun," making both stars into household names. Cruise recently marked the film's anniversary in an Instagram post, noting "It's incredible to look back on the thirty-eight years of ‘Top Gun.’” Val Kilmer's portrayal of Lieutenant Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in 'Top Gun' was a pivotal role in the highest-grossing film of 1986, a testament to the movie's enduring popularity, as reported by Box Office Mojo. “To the fans who have been with us since the start, there wouldn’t be a Top Gun Day without you,” Cruise said in an Instagram post. On occasion, Kilmer shares memorable photos from scenes in the movie. As reported by Puck News, discussions emerged earlier this year about another possible sequel to “Top Gun,” although specific details remain unclear at this time. Since the film’s debut nearly four decades ago, both stars had successful television and film careers. Kilmer’s journey over the years included a rough patch battling throat cancer.

Expert Resources on HPV

• A Major New Effort Announced to Vaccinate Young Boys Against HPV and Cancers Linked to Sex
• A Reminder About HPV-Linked Cancers From Survivor & ‘Desperate Housewives’ Actress Marcia Cross
• Breaking: HPV Vaccine Not Recommended For Adults Over 26, Per New American Cancer Society Guidelines
• Busting the Myths About the HPV Vaccine

Kilmer’s ‘Big Lump’

Val Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014. In an interview with The New York Times, Kilmer explained he did not immediately see his doctor for his symptoms. He told the outlet he felt a big lump in his throat in 2014. After waking up in a pool of his own blood, he was convinced to see his doctor, who confirmed his cancer diagnosis. Throat cancer is cancer that develops in your throat or voice box.

“[Throat] cancer 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,” Dr. Ryan Hughes , a radiation oncologist at Wake Forest School of Medicine, told SurvivorNet. “In the majority of patients, [throat cancer] does not cause symptoms in the throat but instead first presents with an otherwise asymptomatic mass in the neck,” Dr. Hughes added. Kilmer underwent chemotherapy to help treat the cancer. He also underwent a tracheotomy procedure, which had an impact on his ability to speak. This procedure connects the windpipe to a hole in the front of your neck. Interestingly, the actor continued working on production projects using artificial intelligence technology despite the tracheotomy's impact on his voice. The technology was created by Sonantic, which used samples of Kilmer speaking to recreate his speech patterns.

Since undergoing treatment for throat cancer, Kilmer said he is healed in his memoir , I’m Your Huckleberry . He also added, “I’m so grateful.”

HPV is Responsible for Many Throat Cancers

The American Cancer Society says most people diagnosed with throat cancer (laryngeal cancer) are 55 or older. Although, Yale Medicine says throat cancer is becoming “more common in younger people due to the increased prevalence of HPV.” The human papillomavirus (HPV) is "a group of more than 200 related viruses, some of which are spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex," the National Cancer Institute says. HPV infection is linked to multiple cancers, and the majority of sexually active people will get the disease at some point in their lives. Although nearly all cases of cervical cancer are indeed caused by HPV, people should also be aware that HPV puts both men and women at risk of developing several other cancers, such as oral cancer and cancers of the vagina, penis, anus, and throat. Overall, HPV is believed to be the cause of 90% of anal and cervical cancers, approximately 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers, and 60% of penile cancers. WATCH: HPV's link to cancer.

Protecting Against HPV

Nearly 80 million Americans have HPV today, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It impacts men and women and won’t cause problems for most people. However, in a small percentage of cases, it can lead to cancer. The HPV vaccine is recommended to protect against HPV and, therefore, HPV-related cancers. Gardasil 9 is an HPV vaccine that offers protection against "nine HPV types: the two low-risk HPV types that cause most genital warts, plus seven high-risk HPV types that cause most HPV-related cancer," according to the National Cancer Institute. The vaccine creates an immune response to HPV 16, the primary cause of 92% of head and neck cancers. Once children are vaccinated, they cannot be infected with that strain. For parents, the HPV vaccine enables them to protect their children from developing cancer in the future. The key to the vaccine is that you receive it before you become sexually active; hence, the vaccines are approved for children as young as nine years old. WATCH: Why children should get the HPV vaccine? According to the CDC, the HPV vaccine is recommended for all male and female preteens 11 to 12 years old, and it is given in two doses between six and 12 months. The series of shots can also start as young as 9. The CDC also notes that teens and young adults through age 26 who didn't start or finish the HPV vaccine series also need the vaccine. Additionally, people with weakened immune systems or teens and young adults who started the series between 15 and 26 should get three doses instead of two. Although adults up to 45 can still receive the vaccine, it's not recommended for everyone older than 26. Still, a person older than 26 could choose to get vaccinated after talking to their doctor about possible benefits, even despite it being less effective in this age range, as more people have already been exposed to HPV by this point.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you are concerned about your cancer risk related to the human papillomavirus or whether HPV caused the cancer you have, you can use one of the conversation starters below when talking with your doctor:

• I am unsure if I received the HPV vaccine when I was younger. What can I do to know for sure?
• If I experience symptoms that could be because of HPV, what tests can I undergo to know for sure?
• How can I know if HPV caused the cancer I have?