Edward James Olmos Says His Body Almost “Gave Up” During Cancer Battle
Edward James Olmos is speaking openly about his battle with throat cancer, three years after the actor underwent chemotherapy and radiation in 2022.
PEOPLE reported that the 79-year-old Selena and Battlestar Galactica actor discussed his health at the May 26 world premiere of the Netflix movie Office Romance in Hollywood, California. Olmos said there were moments during his cancer struggle when his body almost “gave up.”
Olmos told PEOPLE that chemotherapy and radiation “wasn’t easy,” and said the experience gave him a new perspective on life. He said it made him understand how delicate life is, and how beautiful it can be.
Olmos credited one of his children, a Zen Buddhist monk, with keeping him centered during the worst parts of the ordeal. He also praised his medical team as “brilliant,” and said he’s grateful to be nearly three years past his throat cancer.
PEOPLE highlighted that Olmos previously said that after the chemotherapy, radiation, and treatment stopped, his body really struggled. Olmos previously described his throat as “annihilated” by treatment, saying he couldn’t swallow, talk, eat, or drink during that period.
Still, Olmos said that after roughly 90 to 100 days, he was in much better shape. Today, he says he feels strong.
What is throat cancer?
According to Yale Medicine, throat cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that can form in the pharynx or larynx. The pharynx helps move food and air, while the larynx, often called the voice box, helps with speech and protects the airway while eating.
Yale Medicine states that throat cancer often begins in squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells that line the pharynx and larynx. Risk factors can include tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, HPV infection, poor diet and oral hygiene, vitamin deficiency, and Epstein-Barr virus.
Information from the American Cancer Society shows that laryngeal cancer is expected to account for about 12,290 new U.S. cases in 2026. Most people diagnosed with laryngeal cancer are 55 or older, with the average age at diagnosis around 66.
Symptoms to watch
Throat cancer symptoms can vary by where the cancer is located.
Yale Medicine lists possible warning signs including a sore throat that doesn’t go away, pain or trouble swallowing, persistent ear pain, a lump in the neck or throat, hoarseness, voice changes, nosebleeds, headaches, coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss, sores in the throat, constant bad breath, and a stiff jaw.
Most sore throats or voice changes are not cancer. But lingering changes deserve attention, especially for adults over 50.
Any ongoing health change should be checked by a doctor, especially symptoms tied to swallowing, voice changes, throat pain, unexplained weight loss, blood, or a lump in the neck.
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