In memory
Remembering Roger Ebert — and Understanding Salivary Gland and Thyroid Cancer
Film critic Roger Ebert lived openly with cancer for years before his death in 2013. Here's what these cancers are, from NCI.
Please note: this page is educational only — it is not medical advice, and it does not speculate about anyone’s health beyond reliable public reporting. For questions about your own health, talk with your healthcare team.
On screen
Roger Ebert, the Pulitzer Prize–winning film critic, was open with the public about his years of cancer. According to widely reported coverage, he was treated for papillary thyroid cancer in 2002 and for salivary gland cancer in 2003, and later faced further surgeries that affected his ability to speak and eat. He continued writing prolifically throughout, becoming a familiar and candid voice about living with cancer. He died in April 2013 at the age of 70. We share this to remember him respectfully and to help readers understand these cancers.
The reality
According to the National Cancer Institute, salivary gland cancer is one of the head and neck cancers — a group that includes cancers of the larynx, throat, lips, mouth, nose, and salivary glands. The salivary glands make saliva, and cancers that begin there are relatively uncommon.
Thyroid cancer begins in the thyroid, a gland in the neck. Papillary thyroid cancer, the type reported in Ebert's case, is the most common form of thyroid cancer. Because both salivary gland and thyroid cancers occur in the head and neck region, treatment can involve surgery and radiation and, at times, affect functions like speaking and swallowing — which is one reason care often involves a team of specialists.
NCI provides patient information on the specific types of head and neck cancer, including salivary gland cancer, along with treatment, prevention, and research.
What the story gets right — and what to remember
Roger Ebert's story illustrated, very publicly, that cancer and its treatment in the head and neck region can affect speech and eating, and that people can live and work meaningfully while facing serious illness. His openness helped many readers feel less alone.
Every case is different, though. The specific cancer type, its stage, and the treatments involved vary from person to person. One person's public experience can educate and inspire, but it is not medical advice and does not predict anyone else's course.
Awareness, screening & prevention
For head and neck cancers, the NCI points to known risk factors — including tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, and HPV infection — as areas where people can lower risk. NCI has evidence-based patient screening information for oral cavity and nasopharyngeal cancers, but there is no single routine population-wide screening test for all head and neck cancers.
NCI encourages people to see a healthcare provider about persistent symptoms — such as a lump in the neck, ongoing hoarseness, or trouble swallowing — rather than waiting, and to discuss their individual risk.
Turning a story into something useful
Remembering a writer like Roger Ebert can lead somewhere constructive: learning what these cancers are, understanding risk factors, and knowing to seek care for symptoms that persist. Free, accurate cancer education helps people recognize warning signs and supports those living with cancer and their caregivers with clear, reliable information.
Questions to ask a healthcare team
- I have a lump in my neck, persistent hoarseness, or trouble swallowing — should it be checked?
- What are my personal risk factors for head and neck cancers, and how can I reduce them?
- If cancer is found in this region, what specialists would be involved in treatment and recovery?
- What support is available for speech, eating, and daily life during and after treatment?