Moshe Kasher shared a series of Instagram slides detailing his tonsil cancer diagnosis, opening up about a private battle he's been fighting while the world watched him work. The comedian and writer revealed he discovered a bump on his tonsil while filming Judd Apatow's upcoming project The Comeback King in Savannah three months ago.
"It was cancer, which did not rule so hard," he wrote with characteristic dark humour. Last week, he underwent a five-hour surgery at Cedars Sinai involving what he described as "a Jewish robot yanking my jaw open." He managed to keep working on the entire film while grappling with the diagnosis. "My life has been terror, meditation, tears, and medical planning (oh and 12 hour days on set pitching jokes)," Kasher revealed. He praised Apatow as "a more kind, supportive, and nurturing friend" throughout the ordeal.
The type of cancer Kasher has — HPV-positive tonsil cancer — has a cure rate around 95%. He is awaiting word on whether radiation treatment is necessary. "Regardless I will be okay and back to being a cool dude ASAP," he promised.
In true comedian fashion, Kasher cracked wise about his diagnosis, noting this particular cancer is "cancer you get from sex. So it's cool that now you know I've officially had that." He also warned that HPV-positive tonsil cancer is "an epidemic in men under 55" and urged parents to get their kids vaccinated.
Kasher and his wife Natasha Leggero managed to record a fresh episode of their podcast The Endless Honeymoon before surgery. He has not confirmed when he will return to live comedy.
