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.. .. copy and pasted from the following URL .. .. other articles too.. after the first article .. article written by Kavontae Smalls .. article dated to September the eighteenth, in the year two thousand twenty five .. .. .. .. .. Nighingale Mist the second: ..".. wowowowow.. Dustin Hoffman is Adam Verver for film director David Lynch.. the Henry James powerhouse character, Adam Verver.." .. .. https://www.survivornet.com/articles/aging-is-beautiful-the-graduate-actor-dustin-hoffman-88-returns-to-film-12-years-after-beating-cancer/
Published Sep 18, 2025
‘Aging Is Beautiful’: ‘The Graduate’ Actor Dustin Hoffman, 88, Returns to Film 12 Years After Beating Cancer
Kavontae Smalls
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Life After Cancer That's Filled With Joy and Happiness
Veteran actor Dustin Hoffman, 88, returns to film with “Tuner,” a new crime thriller, marking a powerful comeback 12 years after overcoming throat cancer.
Diagnosed in 2013, Hoffman underwent successful treatment for throat cancer, according to his publicist at the time. However, he chose to keep his health journey largely private, focusing instead on healing and his career.
Some people battling a disease or cancer are open to sharing their experiences as much as they can, while others prefer to keep it to themselves. SurvivorNet experts say both approaches and everything in between are valid.
Fortunately, HPV-related throat cancers tend to respond well to treatment, particularly when addressed with a combination of radiation and chemotherapy.
The HPV vaccine—such as Gardasil 9—protects against nine strains of the virus, including HPV 16, which is responsible for 92% of head and neck cancers. It’s a powerful tool in cancer prevention.
Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman is reminding the world that resilience doesn’t fade with age—it deepens. At 88, the legendary actor is back on screen in the upcoming crime thriller “Tuner,” twelve years after quietly overcoming throat cancer.
TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 08: Dustin Hoffman attends the premiere of “Tuner” during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 08, 2025, in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
Making a rare red carpet appearance to promote the film, Hoffman radiated vitality and charm, embodying the very sentiment he once shared with Parade: “I think people get more and more beautiful with age.”
Hoffman’s cinematic legacy spans generations, beginning with his breakout role in 1967’s “The Graduate.” From “All the President’s Men” to “Tootsie,” “Rain Man,” and even “Kung Fu Panda,” he’s long been celebrated for his versatility and emotional depth. But behind the scenes, Hoffman faced a deeply personal health challenge that he chose to keep largely private.
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1970: Photo of Dustin Hoffman, circa 1970. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
In 2013, his press officer confirmed to news outlet Express that Hoffman had been diagnosed with throat cancer.
“It was detected early and he has been surgically cured,” the statement read. The actor opted not to speak publicly about his diagnosis, instead focusing on recovery and continuing his work.
American actor Robert Redford, wearing a white shirt with brown trousers and a patterned tie, in conversation with American actor Dustin Hoffman, who sits in a striped shirt, in a recreation of The Washington Post’s offices in ‘All the President’s Men’, filmed at Burbank Studios in Burbank, California, 1976. The political thriller based on the Watergate scandal, directed by Alan J Pakula, starred Redford as Bob Woodward and Hoffman as Carl Bernstein. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Now, with “Tuner” premiering at the Telluride Film Festival, Hoffman’s return feels like more than a comeback—it’s a testament to survivorship. His belief that “aging is beautiful” resonates even more deeply for cancer survivors and patients navigating their own journeys.
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A Reluctance to Share Your Diagnosis. When Is It Okay to Share?
Some people battling a disease or cancer are open to sharing their experiences as much as they can, while others prefer to keep it to themselves or close loved ones. SurvivorNet experts say both approaches, and everything in between, are valid.
WATCH: Sharing a Diagnosis
“Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis of cancer in social situations,” psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik explains.
Questions like “How much information should they share and with whom should they share the information?” are things Plutchik says patients take into consideration.
Dr. Plutchik explains, “There is no one right way to handle this diagnosis. People should do what feels right to them.”
A cancer journey can last months to years, which means cancer warriors may be experiencing a lot of uncertainty until they fully understand where their health stands. This uncertainty can influence when a cancer patient is ready to share their diagnosis, Dr. Plutchik further explained.
Dr. Plutchik stresses that those close to a person going through cancer should be respectful of their wishes when it comes to disclosing their diagnosis and seeking support.
HPV-Linked Head and Neck Cancers Have Surged 300% Since the 1980s, Experts Warn
Throat cancer falls under the broader category of head and neck cancers—an area seeing a dramatic rise in cases linked to HPV. Over the past two decades, HPV-related head and neck cancers have surged, prompting growing concern among medical experts and public health advocates alike.
“From the 1980s to the 2010s, the rate of HPV-related head and neck cancers has gone up by 300 percent,” said Dr. Ted Teknos, a head and neck cancer specialist and president and scientific director of University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio, in an interview with SurvivorNet.
While not all oral cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV)—the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S.—there is a well-established link between the virus and certain types of head and neck cancers.
RELATED: Why the HPV Vaccine Is So Important in Preventing Cancer
WATCH: Understanding the Human Papillomavirus
According to Dr. Allen Ho, a head and neck surgeon at Cedars-Sinai, HPV infection is incredibly common among Americans.
“The vast majority of humans in the United States, both men and women, will eventually get infected with HPV,” Dr. Ho told SurvivorNet.
However, only a small fraction of those infected are at risk of developing cancer.
“The important thing to know about HPV is that there are many different strains, and only a couple of them tend to be more cancer-inducing,” Dr. Ho explained.
“Probably less than 1 percent of the population who get infected happen to have the cancer-causing virus that somehow their immune system fails to clear, and over 15 to 20 years it develops from a viral infection into a tumor and cancer.”
Treatment for HPV-related oral cancers often involves surgery to remove the tumor, but may also include chemotherapy, radiation, or targeted drug therapies. In advanced cases, these treatments can affect a patient’s ability to eat or speak, although rehabilitation therapy can help many regain these essential functions.
The rise in HPV-related cancers underscores the importance of prevention, early detection, and public awareness—especially when it comes to the life-saving potential of the HPV vaccine.
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. While many sexually active individuals will contract HPV at some point in their lives, the virus is linked to several serious cancers.
Though HPV is most commonly associated with cervical cancer, its reach extends far beyond. The virus is also known to cause cancers of the throat, vagina, penis, anus, and vulva. In fact, HPV is believed to be responsible for:
90% of anal and cervical cancers
Approximately 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers
Around 60% of penile cancers
Despite its widespread impact, screening options remain limited—especially for throat cancer.
“There are no screening guidelines to screen for throat cancer, unlike cervical cancer with pap smears,” said Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, in an interview with SurvivorNet. “There are no standard tests to determine if you harbor the virus.”
The good news? HPV-related throat cancers tend to respond well to treatment.
“The cure rates for people who have HPV-related disease are a lot higher than those who have tobacco-related throat cancer,” Dr. Geiger explained.
Protecting Against HPV: Why the Vaccine Matters More Than Ever
Nearly 80 million Americans are currently living with human papillomavirus (HPV), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While most people won’t experience serious health issues, for a small percentage, HPV can lead to cancer.
To reduce that risk, health experts strongly recommend the HPV vaccine, which protects against the strains most likely to cause cancer.
What the Vaccine Covers
Gardasil 9, the most widely used HPV vaccine, offers broad protection.
According to the National Cancer Institute, it guards 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.”
One of the most dangerous strains is HPV 16, which is responsible for 92% of head and neck cancers. The vaccine triggers an immune response that prevents infection from this strain—making it a powerful tool in cancer prevention.
“The key with the vaccine is that you receive it before you have sexual encounters,” explains Dr. Geiger. “So that’s why these vaccines are approved for young children ages 9, 10, 11 years old, up to age 26.”
Who Should Get Vaccinated—and When
The CDC recommends the HPV vaccine for all male and female preteens at ages 11 to 12, administered in two doses spaced six to twelve months apart.
The series can begin as early as age 9.
Teens and young adults through age 26 who didn’t start or complete the vaccine series should still get vaccinated.
Those who begin the series between ages 15 and 26 or who have weakened immune systems should receive three doses instead of two.
While adults over 26 can still receive the vaccine, it’s generally less effective, as many have already been exposed to HPV. Still, individuals up to age 45 may choose to get vaccinated after consulting with their doctor about potential benefits.
WATCH: Should children get the HPV Vaccine?
Changing the Conversation Around HPV
Vaccine hesitancy remains a barrier, often rooted in concerns that the vaccine encourages early sexual activity. To counter this, many health professionals are shifting how they talk about it.
“I think rebranding the vaccine as a cancer vaccine, rather than an STD vaccine, is critically important,” says Dr. Teknos.
Dr. Teknos believes that focused efforts to “change the mindset around the vaccine” can make a meaningful difference.
By reframing the HPV vaccine as a powerful tool for cancer prevention, experts hope to boost vaccination rates—and protect more lives in the process.
Questions for 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 caused by HPV, what tests can I undergo to determine?
How can I know if HPV caused the cancer I have?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Kavontae Smalls is a writer and reporter for SurvivorNet. Read More
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