Val Kilmer Has Trouble Speaking; Denies Having Cancer

Val Kilmer made his first public appearance after rumors emerged that he has cancer. Actor Michael Douglas made comments alleging Kilmer was diagnosed with the illness.

Douglas himself is a tongue cancer survivor, having been diagnosed in 2010. He speculated Kilmer might have the illness too during a Q&A with Jonathan Ross at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London, England. The Q&A took place last Sunday.

“Val was a wonderful guy who is dealing with exactly what I had, and things don’t look to good for him.My prayers are with him. That’s why you haven’t heard too much from Val lately.”

On Tuesday, Kilmer wrote on Facebook: “I love Michael Douglas but he is misinformed. The last time I spoke to him was almost two years ago, when I asked him for a referral for a specialist to get a diagnosis for a lump in my throat.”

“I ended up using a team at UCLA and have no cancer whatsoever. I still have a swollen tongue and am rehabbing steadily,” Kilmer said.

It was because of a swollen tongue that the actor had trouble speaking at his latest public appearance. However, he assured fans he was recovering and that he took responsibility for his health. Kilmer, a well-known Christian Scientist, addressed rumors that he refused medical help. He that some people “mistakenly thought my silence about my personal issues meant that somehow I wasn’t being responsible to my health, because of my reliance on prayer and Love.”

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” he wrote. “I hope this puts to rest any further concerns about my health. … Being healthy and having the respect of my peers and love from my family, friends and fans is a DAILY source of inspiration, for which I am so grateful, you have no idea.”