Michael Douglas has received various honors for his efforts as an actor and producer. Similar to his father, Kirk Douglas, the actor has attained global fame. But everything changed for the star when he was told that he had a terminal illness.
In the late 1960s, the BAFTA-winning actor made his debut in the entertainment industry. He later enjoyed great success with the film adaptation of the book One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. His union with actress Catherine Zeta-Jones also garnered media attention. Far from his hectic work schedule and the glamorous lifestyle of Hollywood, Douglas, however, struggled with what he initially believed to be throat cancer.
The famous person admitted to People in a direct interview about his health issues that he never thought he would die, despite the seriousness of his illness.
He continued, “I know it’s strange, but throughout the entire course of chemotherapy and radiation, I never gave thought to dying.
He proclaimed, “My mother passed away at the age of 92.My father recently celebrated his 102nd birthday. I’ve never really thought about dying or becoming older.
The famous person admitted to People in a direct interview about his health issues that he never thought he would die, despite the seriousness of his illness.
He continued, “I know it’s strange, but throughout the entire course of chemotherapy and radiation, I never gave thought to dying.
He proclaimed, “My mother passed away at the age of 92.My father recently celebrated his 102nd birthday. I’ve never really thought about dying or becoming older.
Douglas proceeded by saying that it was his surgeon’s recommendation that he release a statement confirming that he has throat cancer, but added that if he had needed surgery, his acting career might have ended. He was speaking to fellow actor Samuel L Jackson at the time.
The result won’t be desirable. Douglas might lose some of his mouth and jaw, the surgeon said.
Douglas provided the Guardian with new information into his struggle with cancer, specifically the cause, in a surprising interview two years after his recovery.
Because the sexually transmitted disease HPV (human papillomavirus) also causes cancer, he told the newspaper that oral contact was the “cause” of tongue cancer.
Despite being open and honest in the interview, the celebrity was compelled to clarify what he meant after his comments caused a public uproar.
Later, Douglas’ agent informed the American news outlet CNN that the actor did not entirely blame HPV for his cancer because he also smoked and drank. According to a formal statement:
“Michael Douglas never stated that ingesting cunnilingus was the root of his disease. He did not clearly state that his personal sickness was caused by oral sex, despite specialists in the report mentioning that some mouth cancers are suspected to be caused by oral sex.
After a “walnut-sized tumor” was found close to the base of Douglas’ tongue, he received a prompt diagnosis of stage 4 cancer. He subsequently began a challenging eight-week chemotherapy and radiation treatment regimen.
What a jarring ride. That can really exhaust you, he claimed, as reported by the Guardian.
Additionally, the amount of chemotherapy I was receiving zapped all the good stuff. I felt terribly weak as a result.
According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, only 50% of those who are diagnosed with oral cancer survive five years after their diagnosis. Delay in diagnosis is the main cause of this.
The tongue’s base as well as the oral tongue, or the portion that protrudes from the mouth, can potentially acquire tongue cancer, therefore it’s important to be aware of the warning signs and symptoms.
Examples of tongue cancer symptoms include the following:
a recurring white or red mark on the tongue
chronic throat discomfort
a persistent lump or painful spot on the tongue
trouble swallowing and persistent mouth numbness
blood from the tongue that cannot be explained (not from biting the tongue or another injury)
It hurts in the ears.
The mouth, throat, and possibly the tonsils and base of the tongue can all be affected by HPV, as Douglas correctly notes, which can result in oropharyngeal malignancies. The development of the disease is greatly influenced by other risk factors, such as smoking or chewing tobacco, and it typically takes years for someone to acquire cancer after catching HPV.
Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are the three main types of treatment for tongue cancer, either individually or in combination. The type of treatment depends on the degree of the cancer and if it has spread. It is also necessary to take into account the tongue’s injured area.
Douglas had advanced cancer, which can be identified by tumors that are more than 4 cm in diameter, have migrated to other organs or lymph nodes, or both. At this stage, the most common treatments are as follows:
Chemoradiotherapy, a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, will be administered to your throat and neck.
You might undergo radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy following surgery to remove some of the lymph nodes in your neck and a section of your throat (including all or part of your tongue).
radiotherapy by itself.
