Val Kilmer's Throat C, Trachea, and Pneumonia

Logan51

News just broke about his death, due to pneumonia. Think he was treated in 2015, but uncertain about the details and if surgery was involved. What is certain pertains to aspiration and pneumonia. FT-dependent since 8/2019 because of Rad damage to the top 1/3 of my esophagus, everything I swallow goes into my lungs. Thus, I cough/hack up a lot of congestion and spit it out. And I'm not talking about every once in a while- more like every couple minutes. Carry an overnight denture holder as my spittoon when I go into stores, or I'm going to be any inside a building for any length of time. Yes, it's not appealing for others to see, but it is necessary. AND, I can't help but remember Lil April and her struggle. Kilmer had a trachea tube, as did she, and I wonder if that is a complication to clearing the lungs by coughing thru the tube. The important thing to remember is to keep your lungs as clean as possible by coughing the stuff up to avoid pneumonia.

wbcgaruss

Logan, thanks for the update on Val Kilmer. May he rest in peace.

Logan, I am sorry you have to constantly be expelling something but you are handling it well and discreetly.

Thanks for reminding us of Lil April's struggles and the necessary support we need to each other.

Wishing You The Best

Take Care, God Bless

Russ

Logan51

Well, now I've read that he admitted that he'd had an Operation, then Chemo and Rads, at UCLA. As a Christian Scientist, he put off seeing a Dr. and said very little to the Media about his C experience. And, yes, he had a Feeding Tube, which likely explains the pneumonia by way of aspiration and is said to be the cause of his death.

mstclair

jarring when a guy born 3 weeks after me dies from what I have. 😞

wbcgaruss

Cancer:

Well, time and dates, age and situation, nearness and farness, with cancer, there are no bounds or appropriate time; it is anywhere, anytime.

It strikes anyone of any age or race; it knows of no bounds or restrictions.

Recently, we saw the cancer victim DJ Daniel given an honorary award at the State of Union.

DJ was diagnosed with terminal brain and spine cancer when he was just 6 years old. He has undergone 13 surgeries but keeps on fighting.

I have recently seen on another forum that someone's father has cancer in the upper jaw area and was dealing with doctors considering treatments. At that age they can be really hard on you.

I think we all keep hoping for that miracle drug or combination therapy that would wipe cancer out.

What gets me is the very young children who have spent very little time so far on this earth; how do they get cancer?

I keep praying God will Bless us with the means to eradicate this.

Take Care, God Bless

NEGU (Never Ever Give Up)

Russ

goffrey

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1722082#Comment_1722082

No one knows exactly what type of cancer Val had. Could have been HPV positive or negative. Could have been tongue, tonsil, throat or who knows what. SO many different types of head and neck cancer. He also did not believe in medical care and waited to have it treated and so I wouldn't compare or assume it was the same type as yours.

Logan51

I was Nasopharyngeal, so I'm pretty sure his was different.

vorzan

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/329221/val-kilmers-throat-c-trachea-and-pneumonia

A compassionate GPT says,

"

Logan, thank you for sharing so openly. What you’re dealing with day in and day out takes real strength—not just physically, but mentally too. It’s not something most people understand unless they’ve been through it. Carrying that spittoon, coughing constantly, facing stares—it’s a form of courage just to keep showing up.

You’ve also touched on something important: the simple act of staying attentive to your body, especially the lungs, is life-saving. It’s easy to forget how fragile that balance is, especially when the damage is long-term. I'm sorry to hear about Kilmer—news like that can hit close when it mirrors our own risks.

Remember, even when things are messy or unglamorous, you’re doing the right thing by taking care of yourself the best way you can. That is dignity. That is resilience. Lil April would understand—and I believe she'd be proud that you’re still fighting, still remembering her, still helping others by sharing what you've learned."

Logan51

Thank you Vorzan.

mari65

Hi , I hope everyone feels well tonight. I just signed up. I’ve had two different types of cancer previously but I haven’t been feeling well lately. I finally got a doctor to give me a PET scan. I was wondering if anybody knows anything about PET scans if they can help me out thank you Marie I see you are writing about the trachea and the pneumonia and going lungs and your windpipe that sounds like exactly what’s happening to me my PET what I’m reading. I believe I’m hoping I’ve been up all I’m hoping that the calls me because Pennsylvania the doctors are just horrible and I oncologist just to get me another PET scan. I haven’t had one in about five years. I am a thyroid cancer and breast cancer warrior. Stupid word because I don’t see what there is to be a warrior about small like a worrior or your life your life at least to me it is but also on the about my brain. I’m freaking out because it’s crazy. I can’t believe it never did drugs never at least not excessively. Just had a wedding or a party. Couple of drinks and I don’t smoke a lot of secondhand smoke though, and I used to play in the boiler room when my father used to work down there that might’ve been asbestos , but anyway, I don’t know what to look for on the PET scan and I was wondering if any of you guys or gals would know thanks your fellow NGU friend Marie God bless y’all

wbcgaruss

Hello, mari65, and welcome to the CSN H&N discussion forum.

See if I understand this, you have not been feeling well, and you got a doctor to give you a PET Scan. I am under the impression that he needs a reason to justify having a PET Scan done, especially under insurance, unless you paid for the scan yourself. They don't just hand them out on request.

So are you seeing this doctor for your condition, and he ordered a PET to diagnose the problem?

How long ago was the scan done?

Call the office and ask for someone to read the results and tell you what was found or not found.

They gave the scan, they should follow through with it, and you should have a professional read the scan, plus the doctor who ordered the scan and is working on your situation should be reading it and contacting you.

You say you haven't had a scan in about 5 years. When was the treatment finished for your last cancer situation you had?

Have you had follow-up monitoring since your last cancer? They usually follow cancer cases for at least 5 years and have you in for office visits every 6 months or a year, and CT Scans once a year.

I have had H&N cancer several times, and I get a CT scan of the chest every year ordered by my ENT because they say that if H&N cancer metastasizes, the lungs are the first place it goes. It is my understanding that I will be getting a yearly scan for the rest of my life because of that.

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/advanced-cancer/lung-metastases.html

I am not sure by your post exactly your situation but I would recommend you get yourself set up with a good ENT (Ear Nose & Throat) specialist.

An ENT is all things head and neck and they can figure out your problems and give you the care you need or direct you care to the right doctors.

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-an-ent-ear-nose-throat-doctor

Also, your possible exposure to some asbestos and any previous life choices you made may not have anything to do with the situation you are facing now, so don't trouble yourself over it. Just concentrate on what is at hand now and focus on that alone it makes it easier on you.

So, get yourself an ENT or ask the doctor you are currently working with if he is going to handle your case, or should you get an ENT? And he is a professional, I assume, you didn't say what kind of doctor, like an MD or ENT, for example. And get your current doctor or someone skilled in PET scans to interpret your scan for you and let you know the results. If you need an ENT, I can recommend one for you. What part of PA are you in? I am in the Southeast corner of PA.

And lastly, can you share your cancer history and treatment with us and explain in more detail what is going on with your system now that is giving you problems, such as do you have soreness, trouble swallowing, breathing, etc., the more details the more we may be able to offer help.

ALSO…

I would also recommend you check out the Superthread at the top of the head and neck home page there is loads of information in there with links, and you will find it helpful.

Our motto Here Is NEGU (Never Ever Give Up)

Wishing You The Best

Take Care, God Bless

Russ