Moshe Kasher, actor from The Pitt, shares HPV tonsil cancer diagnosis and warns about vaccination
Renowned actor and comedian Moshe Kasher, 46, used his social networks last Sunday to announce a diagnosis of tonsil cancer, a condition directly linked to the HPV virus (human papillomavirus). He explained that he discovered a lump in his throat and had to undergo a surgical procedure to remove the tumor.
In a post on his Instagram account, Kasher wrote, “Happy Father’s Day. Some bad news. I wrote this while high on oxycodone.” The artist then showed several behind-the-scenes images of his visits to the hospital and the beginning of his treatment for the disease.
Recognized for his role as Jacob Samuel, an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter in the series “The Pitt”, Kasher is CODA (son of deaf parents) and is certified in Libras in real life, lending authenticity to his character. The comedian was also working as a screenwriter for the film “The Comeback King,” directed by Judd Apatow and starring Glen Powell.
He expressed surprise that he was able to work on an entire feature film while facing his health problem. Kasher praised Judd Apatow, saying the director was “a kinder, more supportive, more welcoming friend” during the period, even though his colleague was “on the verge of a five-hour energy overdose because of his creepy habit.”
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Kasher took advantage of the visibility of his situation to educate his fans and followers about the disease and ways to prevent it. “The other good news is that this is a cancer you get through sex. So it’s cool that you now officially know that I actually had sex,” the actor joked, then issued a serious warning: “The bad news is that HPV-associated tonsil cancer is an epidemic among men under 55. Get tested and get your kids vaccinated.” The global incidence of HPV-related head and neck cancers has shown a worrying rise, making the comedian’s appeal even more relevant to public health.
Lack of knowledge about the relationship between HPV and cancer in Brazilian men
Although cervical cancer is the type most often associated with HPV, the viral infection is also linked to several tumors in men. However, many Brazilians still ignore these risks. A study carried out by MSD, with the support of the SBU (Brazilian Society of Urology), revealed that 64% of men in Brazil are unaware of the connection between the virus and the emergence of cancer.
HPV is a virus that affects both the skin and mucous membranes and is considered the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world, according to data from the Ministry of Health. In men, lesions caused by the virus can appear in regions such as the perianal area, anus, penis, scrotum or pubic area.
Furthermore, the survey showed that 49% of men are unaware of the importance of regular exams for early detection of the virus, and 45% mistakenly believe that the use of condoms is sufficient to prevent HPV. The data also indicates that, although 65% of men claim to know what HPV is, the virus is not among the STIs (sexually transmitted infections) most remembered by them, behind HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea.
