On January 11 of this year, Michael Douglas told Matt Lauer on Today Show that his tumor is gone after a six-month regimen of chemotherapy and radiation to eliminate throat cancer, in his case the tumor is at the back of his tongue. The cancer was diagnosed five months earlier on August, and the story was entirely different then. Douglas said that he would never forget that moment when the doctor looked up at him and looked back down. According to him, he knew it while the doctor said that he needs to have to take a biopsy and pointed that there was a polyp in his tongue. Two days later, the doctor called him back and said that he has cancer.
Douglas said that just after filming “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” his throat felt a little sore, but he thought it was from the stress of portraying financier Gordon Gekko, the role that earned him an Oscar in 1987′s “Wall Street.” He said he thought maybe it was from tension, from the part where he have not placed his voice, where he is swallowing his words and speaks from the back of his throat. According to him, he had a little of a sore gum and so he saw doctors. The actor left everyone an advice saying that the thing with cancer is that you want to bet it as early as you can.
The actor/producer was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer in August 2010, attributing to years of smoking and drinking. Although he reported an 80% chance of recovery at the time, head and neck cancer specialist typically cite about a 60% recovery rate for smoking and alcohol-related throat cancer, and that is only if it is caught early. Nevertheless, throat cancer related to a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection tends to have recovery odds of around 80% with treatment. Following his treatment, Douglas said he would have to be monitored closely in the coming months to ensure that the tumor does not return. In addition to gaining back the 32 pounds he lost during the treatment, Douglas said he plans to eat a more organic diet and spend some time relaxing.
Douglas also touched on coming to terms with his eldest son Cameron’s history of drug abuse and his jail sentence in 2010 for dealing methamphetamine and cocaine and possessing heroin. As far as drug addiction, he think that peer group plays a huge part of that and in the case of his oldest son, there was no end until he was incarcerated.
Having survived the terrifying disease, Douglas is now having a deeper appreciation to life and the people around him. According to him, all of a sudden the affection from his family, friends and fans hit him at a much deeper level than he would have ever imagined before. In addition, he said that it gave him a really new appreciation of just how valuable, how Precious good friends are and family. After taking time to recover from cancer treatments, Douglas will next be seen in the title role of “Liberace,” a film based on the life of the famous American pianist with Matt Damon playing his on-screen lover. Douglas said that Liberace was a lovely guy and he have not played a lot of nice guys.