The cause? A strain of HPV, a virus Bonnell hadn\u2019t heard of since his freshman year of college. Now Bonnell is using his platform in Cowtown and the cuisine industry to encourage people to get vaccinated for the virus.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stigma around HPV is so hard to get around. It\u2019s still hard to talk about,\u201d Bonnell said. \u201cAnd I really hope that everybody gets the message and understands that this virus is a lot more than just an STD, and it\u2019s literally everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0416-ChefBonnell-MC-05-1-scaled.jpg\")
Chef Jon Bonnell poses for a photo, showing a visible scar on his neck from surgeries and drainage on April 16, 2026, in Fort Worth. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
The early days after his cancer diagnosis is when Bonnell started to learn about the virus. The most common sexually transmitted disease, HPV has several strains that can be spread through contact with saliva or skin. Furthermore, most people will contract the virus at some point in their lives, with the majority having little to no effect, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/a><\/p>\n The strain of HPV Bonnell contracted is one of the most common causes of tongue and throat cancers, with some estimates pointing to 70% of the cancers in the United States being caused by the virus.<\/p>\n A lasting impact<\/p>\n Bonnell also found out that a vaccine could have prevented the cancer.<\/p>\n \u201cI know two other guys that have the exact same thing that are going through this at the same time as me,\u201d Bonnell said. \u201cI had no idea how common it was and that we all could have gotten this vaccine.\u201d<\/p>\n Bonnell instead had to go through several surgeries, intense radiation and chemotherapy. In late March, he announced<\/a> that he was cancer-free.\u00a0<\/p>\n The cancer\u2019s effect on Bonnell over the past couple of months wasn\u2019t limited to the chef\u2019s taste buds.<\/p>\n Bonnell lost over 40 pounds during his treatment.\u00a0<\/p>\n He hasn\u2019t been able to move around often and has been bed- and couch-ridden since the start of the year. \u201cI am so sick of this damn couch,\u201d Bonnell said.<\/p>\n Swallowing most food and drink still burns the right side of his throat because of radiation treatment in the area.<\/p>\n \u201cEven a sip of water when you\u2019re thirsty was excruciating just to try to swallow,\u201d Bonnell recounted.<\/p>\n The chef also needs to spit into a cup constantly, day and night, because of damage done to his throat.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a long road and it\u2019s quite the struggle, but I\u2019m glad to be on this side of it where I feel like I\u2019m getting a little better every day,\u201d Bonnell said.<\/p>\n Turning struggle into advocacy<\/p>\n At 55 years old, Bonnell is outside of the recommended age range to receive the HPV vaccine.<\/p>\n Still, he notes that if he\u2019d had any information about the virus, he would have gotten himself vaccinated.<\/p>\n Other countries agree with the chef. Australia is on track to eliminate cervical cancer through a nationwide HPV vaccination program. Scotland hasn\u2019t seen a case of cervical cancer since 2008, according to the American Association of Immunologists<\/a>.<\/p>\n Although stipulating that he isn\u2019t a medical professional, Bonnell is encouraging everyone to get vaccinated if they can.<\/p>\n The American Association of Pediatrics recommends starting the HPV vaccination schedule when children are between ages 9-12. For patients ages 14 and younger, the vaccine should be administered in a two-dose series. For patients ages 15-45, or for the immunocompromised, a three-dose series is recommended.<\/p>\n The majority of private insurers cover the vaccine, as does Medicare and Medicaid.<\/p>\n \u201cIf one generation gets vaccinated almost completely, you could get rid of 70% of head and neck cancers in men and almost 100% of cervical cancer,\u201d Bonnell said. \u201cThat\u2019d be amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Diane Arnaout, a Fort Worth-based pediatrician, said about 40% of American adults have the virus at any given time.<\/p>\n And given HPV can cause cancers in the anus, cervix and throat, most physicians in the United States recommend the vaccine. \u201cWe love this vaccine because it\u2019s highly effective at preventing catching HPV and spreading it to others,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Despite being diagnosed at Stage 3 of the cancer, Bonnell\u2019s survival chances were high \u2014 96%. So his advocacy is less focused on preventing deaths from HPV-related cancer and more on the pain he endured during treatment.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I could stop anyone from going through what I had to go through to get rid of this cancer would (have been) worth it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Bonnell has started leaving the house more often and increasingly eating solid food.\u00a0<\/p>\n Most meals that he consumes still taste awful, he said, but he is looking forward to the summer when he believes his taste buds will be fully healed.<\/p>\n Ismael M. Belkoura is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from Texas Health Resources. Contact him at ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0416-ChefBonnell-MC-02-1-scaled.jpg\")
A container of protein powder sits in chef Jon Bonnell\u2019s kitchen on April 16, 2026, at his home in Fort Worth. Bonnell consumes most of his protein and carbs from various protein powders and shakes. The radiation treatment he received left him with burn wounds in his throat making it painful to swallow. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0416-ChefBonnell-MC-03-scaled.jpg\")
Chef Jon Bonnell sits in his home in Fort Worth on April 16, 2026. Due to the amount of radiation he received in a small area in his throat, Bonnell produces an excess of mucus and always has a cup nearby. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n